President Rodrigo Duterte has told the United States and the European Union to "go ahead" and withdraw financial aid to the Philippines if they're unhappy with his bloody anti-drug war.
"Go away, bring your money to somewhere else. We will survive as a nation," Duterte said in a speech to police officers on Thursday in the southern city of Butuan.
"How do you look at us, mendicants? We will survive. Even if we'll go through hardships, we will survive. But we will never, never compromise our dignity.
"If you think it is high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead, we will not beg for it," Duterte said, adding he doesn't expect the US, EU, and human rights group to understand his policy.
IN PICTURES: Philippines - Drug raids and prisons
More than 3,680 people have been killed by police and unidentified attackers in the Philippines since June 30, when Duterte took office.
Last week, two US senators raised alarms about the mounting death toll linked to the anti-drug war, and called for a review of American foreign aid to the Philippines.
Senator Ben Cardin said what Duterte is advocating and endorsing "amounts to mass murder".
Senator Patrick Leahy said: "No amount of killing will result in reforms that improve the judiciary, end corruption and impunity in law enforcement, or rehabilitate those caught in the vicious cycle of addiction."
According to US data, the Philippines is expected to receive a total of $188m in 2017. In 2015, the country received $236m in US aid.
Meanwhile, the annual EU assistance to the Philippines is estimated at $65m.
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