Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte came to power in June last year promising to clean up the country by ‘slaughtering’ anyone involved in illegal drugs.
He vowed to kill up to 100,000 traffickers, with dealers and drug users given an ultimatum by the authorities; Surrender or Die.
According to the police more than 790,000 people surrendered, promising never to touch drugs again.
Now 18 months after he took power nearly 10,000 people have been killed for alleged involvement in drugs - although many are believed to be innocent.
Police say they have shot dead more than 3,900 drug suspects in self-defense during Duterte’s 17-month anti-drug campaign that has triggered growing public distrust and criticism.
The president has now even threatened to have his own son killed if he is found guilty of drug trafficking allegations.
His son is accused of smuggling huge quantities of crystal methamphetamine from China.
Paolo Duterte, 42, denies links to the seized shipment of $125 million worth of narcotics.
Phillipine president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the destruction of 30 luxury cars worth more than £1million as bulldozer filmed flattening vehicles.
Among those destroyed were 10 BMW and Mercedes Benz, a Lexus, Corvette Stingray, Ford Explorer Base 3.5L, Jaguar Type S, Audi S5 and a 2012 Jeep Wrangler.
A McLaren - worth around £196,000 - was also destroyed.
Footage shows about 20 vehicles worth around £850,000 (P61.626million) destroyed under the bulldozer at the Bureau of Customs grounds in Manila.
Ten other luxury cars were simultaneously destroyed at the ports of Davao and Cebu.
In a press conference in Ilocos Norte yesterday Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque disclosed there were at least 70 luxury cars being prepared to be “bulldozed” simultaneously.
But a customs inventory showed only 30 vehicles were seized in five different ports; the Port of Manila; Manila International Container Port, the Port of Subic, the Port of Davao and the Port of Cebu.
All vehicles are classified as “used” except for at least three brand new vehicles, namely two units of brand new Toyota, and one brand new Mercedez Benz that were all confiscated at the Davao port, according to Philstar
The President earlier announced that the BOC would be destroying the vehicles as a deterrent to smuggling, on the bureau's 116th anniversary today.
(Image: REUTERS)
A man takes a selfie with one of the destroyed luxury cars (Image: REX/Shutterstock)
A bulldozer crushes the cars (Image: REX/Shutterstock)
President Duterte sits down for the bulldozer show (Image: RTVM)
President Duterte makes sure his helmet is on right (Image: AFP)
The cars are smuggled into the country to avoid payment of duties and other taxes.
Duterte ordered the condemnation of the smuggled cars, saying that disposing of them at an auction would only give the smugglers an opportunity to secure them legally, reports Sun Star .
The destruction was a clear departure from the usual process of putting smuggled vehicles up for auction to generate additional revenue for the government.
While the country usually auctions the cars off, Duterte said this practice was being abused as smugglers would often buy back their cars using fake consignees.
Ten other luxury cars were simultaneously destroyed at the ports of Davao and Cebu (Image: RTVM)
In a speech on Thursday, he said: "Don't sell it because the situation will remain the same.
"They'll still be the only ones who will benefit from it and they'll be the only ones who wait for the next auctions.
"It's legal and cheap because it's auctioned.
"So what I will do is I will have them bulldozed this Tuesday.
"You keep on importing, fine. I'll bulldoze those everyday."
The brutal reign of President Duterte
Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte came to
