Nationals backbencher George Christensen has praised Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s hardline war on drugs that has led to the death of more than 2000 suspects in gun battles.

Mr Duterte drew international condemnation this week after claiming he personally killed criminals while he was the mayor of a southern city.

Another 3000 drug-related killings are being investigated by authorities to determine if these were related to the illegal drug trade.

On Facebook, Mr Christensen said he supported the hardline approach to drugs and doubted whether Mr Duterte had personally killed people.

“A leader who personally sees off drug dealers? And the problem is?” the Queensland MP said.

Mr Christensen then published a clarification, saying he did not want an elected official in Australia to run around shooting people.

“We’ve done our namby-pamby War on Drugs in the West and it’s been a complete failure.”
George Christensen

“I would also like to see greater penalties for drug producers and traffickers [not the low-level dealers who are often addicts themselves].

“The Singapore-style punishment system of caning seems too good for some of the scum that profit off of the misery of others with the drug trade.”

Mr Duterte has denied extrajudicial killings but welcomed the death toll, saying in September that he would be happy to slaughter three million drug addicts.

The president has repeatedly told the police to kill accused drug dealers if they violently resist, or if officers feel their lives are in danger.

Mr Christensen dismissed reports extra-judicial killings as nonsense, claiming there was little proof.

The president has admitted abusing fentanyl, despite his anti-drug stance. Photo: Getty

“There has been isolated cases of vigilante action but no more so than seen under previous administrations,” he said.

“But while extra-judicial killings are out, it seems judicial killings may be in.”

The United Nations has called on Mr Duterte to end a wave of extrajudicial killings and executions, insisting those with drug charges face a courtroom rather than gunmen on the street.

Mr Christensen suggested he would support forced rehabilitation for drug addicts in Australia.

“The same people wee-weeing about Duterte’s successful drug crackdown, would say forced rehabilitation is a breach of human rights,” he said.

-ABC