Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a presidential awarding ceremony held at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, on Monday. George Calvelo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images hide caption

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks in Manila on Aug. 29. Duterte's war on drugs has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups. But in Davao City, where he was mayor for more than 20 years, he remains extremely popular among residents who say he brought order and improved life in what was a largely lawless city. Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

The wake for Aristotle Garcia, a suspected drug dealer shot by the police during an operation. Garcia's relatives believe he was not a dealer, but a drug user who was set up. Alecs Ongcal for NPR hide caption

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at an air base in Manila on Tuesday. Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrives Monday in Vientiane, Laos, for the ASEAN Summit. The U.S. canceled a bilateral meeting scheduled for Dutarte and President Obama. Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Philippine police officers investigate after an explosion at a night market that left about 10 people dead and wounded several others in southern Davao City, Philippines, late Friday. Manman Dejeto/AP hide caption

This giant pearl could be the biggest ever found in the world. The pearl reportedly weighs about 75 pounds and was discovered by a fisherman 10 years ago. Aileen Cynthia Amurao/SWNS.com hide caption

Residents stand behind a police line, observing the two dead bodies of alleged drug dealers following a drug bust operation that turned into a gunfight last month in Manila, Philippines. Nearly 1,800 people have died, police said, since the government launched a crackdown on illegal drugs after Rodrigo Duterte won a landslide presidential election victory in May with a vow to kill criminals. Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

In this file photo, Philippine navy personnel and congressmen land at a rock that is part of Scarborough Shoal bearing the Philippine flag that was earlier planted by Filipino fishermen. Jess Yuson/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

An aerial image shows Taiping island, in the Spratlys chain in the South China Sea, on March 23. Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Small fishing boats sit in the dock in Tanmen on Hainan Island. The government has subsidized the upgrading of Tanmen's fishing fleet as part of its drive to exert more control in the South China Sea. Anthony Kuhn/NPR hide caption

The new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte (right) walks beside the new police chief, Ronald Bato Dela Rosa, (left) as he was sworn in on July 1 in Manila. Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30, pledging a ruthless approach to suspected drug traffickers. Dozens have been killed by police in recent days. Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

World War II veteran Rudolpho Panaglima lives in Arlington, Va., with his wife, Pura, who holds a portrait of their four children living abroad. Their eldest son, Rolando, has been waiting 20 years for a visa to move to the U.S. from the Philippines. Evie Stone/NPR hide caption

Geraldine Roman walks past a campaign poster during an April 30 trip to the town of Orani, in the province of Bataan, north of Manila. The 49-year-old, a member of a powerful political family, has won a seat in the nation's lower house, according to unofficial results. Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images hide caption