The

Philippine government has belied a report published July 16 , 2017 in the Toronto Sun about the situation in the Philippines .

A spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte reacted to the report written by Brad Hunter about dangerous cities in the world .

“ The streets of Manila look more like a slaughterhouse than one of the world ’ s great cities ,” the Toronto Sun report claimed .

“ Gangsters kill gangsters over women , drug turf and whatever suits their fancy . Extra-judicial assassinations by President Rodrigo Duterte ’ s death squads add to the sinister mix .

“ The vigilantes ’ tally ? An estimated 5,600 dead in just a year ,” the paper reported .

P r e s i d e n t i a l Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Hunter was likely just listening to an “ echo chamber ”.

“ I think they should come

here and experience it ’ s more fun in the Philippines , right ? They should experience the sun , the sand , the beaches … You look around . I mean , from experience , what can you say ? Is this a slaughterhouse ? Of course not ,” Abella said .

“ I think they ’ ve just been listening to … You know , it just reverberates in the ears , I think . They haven ’ t really been here , as far as I know . They should ,” he added .

Critics have slammed the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines , which they attributed to Duterte ’ s war on drugs .

It has been one year since Duterte , also known as The Punisher , was elected as Philippines ’ president in 2016 , after riding a platform of suppressing crime , the spread of drugs and corruption .

Before coming to power , the former mayor had promised a wide range of reforms , including tackling

poverty , unemployment and improving the economy .

Despite taking Filipinos on a promised “ rough ride ” of drug war killings and foreign policy U-turns , the 72-yearold remains as popular as ever as he marked 12 months

in office last June 30 .

According to pollsters at the Social Weather Stations , 80 percent say they have “ much trust ” with his administration ’ s performance .

“ People like the man ,” Ricardo Abad , the head of sociology and anthropology

at Ateneo University in Manila , said in a news report .

“ People may disagree with his policies , or are maybe ambivalent towards them , but because they like him , people will tend to give him the benefit of the doubt ,” Abad said .