Rodrigo Duterte tells Philippine schoolchildren 'I will kill people' day before Liam Fox's 'shared values' speech

Dr Fox has been criticised for his 'frankly shocking' speech

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox shakes hands with President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte (British Embassy Manila)

A day before Liam Fox said the UK has "shared values" with the Philippines, the country's president Rodrigo Duterte told an audience of young children he was "angry" and would "kill people if they destroy our youth."

Mr Duterte's war on drugs has left thousands of people dead since his election last year, and he has previously said he "doesn't give a s*** about human rights."

"I am really strict," Mr Duterte told children aged between four and 10 at an ceremony for Boys Scouts at the presidential palace, local news site Rappler reported.

"And they said I kill people. I really will kill people if they destroy our children."

He went on to threaten drug addicts in his in his usual terms, though he managed to tame his regular use of swearwords.

"You drug addicts, since you've been identified, avoid the streets, stay in your homes because I will throw you in Manila Bay. I'll make you fertilizer for the fish," he said.

Mr Duterte also said he planned to restore basic military training in universities to instill discipline, stepping up government's crackdown on narcotics.

"I need soldiers, I need Boy Scouts. Who wants to become soldiers?" he asked. "I am counting on you, are you ready? Answer me, children. Always love your country."

Dr Fox, the International Trade Secretary, was criticised his "shared values" speech.

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said Dr Fox's comments were "frankly shocking".

"I'm sorry, but we do not have these shared common values with president Duterte who wants to bring back the death penalty and lower the age of criminal responsibility to nine," he said.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: "Duterte is one of the 21st century’s most sinister leaders and Liam Fox has flown halfway around the world to grovel to him.

"The fact that the first visit made by Fox since triggering Article 50 is to the Philippines shows just how low this government is willing to stoop in order to secure even a minimal trade deal in the future.

Since taking office in June, Mr Duterte's anti-drug crackdown has left more than 7,000 peoples dead, alarming Western governments.