The Philippine Foreign Ministry has clarified the country is not leaving the United Nations, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to quit the international organization. Duterte made the remark after the UN called for an end to the wave of killings unleashed by his war on illicit drugs.

"The statement of the president is a statement expressing profound disappointment and frustration, and it is not any statement that should indicate a threat to leave the United Nations," said Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay.

Philippine police chief Ronald dela Rosa said on Monday that a total of 1,779 people have been killed in the country's war on drugs since July 1st - a day after Duterte assumed the presidency. Dela Rosa said the police's stand against extrajudicial killings is uncompromising, vowing to punish those behind of killings outside of police operations. Duterte is unfazed by the criticisms on the growing number of killings. He also repeatedly said the fight against drugs would be relentless and would be sustained.