Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, inaugurated in June, has shocked the world with his blunt and sometimes offensive language.

Here is a selection of some of his most memorable statements to date:

On US President Barack Obama and questions over anti-drugs policy in The Philippines: "I am a president of a sovereign state, and we have long ceased to be a colony: I do not have any master except the Filipino people - nobody but nobody. You must be respectful, do not just throw away questions and statements. Putang ina' mo murahin kita diyan sa forum na 'yan (In Tagalog: Son of a bitch, I will swear at you at that forum)."

On the US ambassador to The Philippines: "As you know, I'm fighting with (US Secretary of State John Kerry's) ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off."

On the United Nations: "(Expletive deleted) you, UN, you can't even solve the Middle East carnage ... couldn't even lift a finger in Africa ... Shut up,all of you."

On Pope Francis: "Pope, son of a whore, go home!"

On the rape of an Australian missionary in the Philippines: "I was angry because she was raped, that's one thing ... But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste." (Duterte was referring to himself, then the mayor of Davao City, Philippines.)

On realising a political mission: "My god, I hate drugs. And I had to kill people because I hate drugs. (Critics) say 'Duterte, your blood-stained hands are everywhere.' Of course not: I do not execute people kneeling down with their hands tied at their back... it is always an armed confrontation."

On drug dealers: "Kill them all ... When I become president, I'll order the police and the military to find these people and kill them... The funeral parlours will be packed ... I'll supply the dead bodies."

On his political philosophy: "A leader must be a terror to the few who are evil in order to protect the lives and well-being of the many who are good."

- dpa