MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he purposely insults foreign critics because he considers their judgment on the government's war on drugs as "derogation of Philippine sovereignty".

"I really do it on purpose. Binabastos ko sila, you know why. When you do that, is always a derogation of the sovereignty of my country. Iniinsulto mo ako," Duterte said in a speech at the 7th anniversary of a public service television program in Pasay City.

The President said foreign critics assume that every death on the street is an extra-judicial killing.

"The favorite line nitong mga foreigners, is always ‘you know there are really killing there.’ And what is really worst is they only count the victims who are killed, not even sure of whether it is true or not. Because nowadays, when you lie flat on the pavement, on the cement, they would just assume you are a victim of extra-judicial killing. That is what makes my mouth very bad," he said.

Duterte also urged the European Union to look at the social aspect of the illegal drug problem in the Philippines.

"The EU, the educated race of this planet, you pretend to have the progressive nose and everything, when you look at the problem, look at the social aspect of the problem," he said.

• READ: Duterte invites EU critics, wants to 'slap them'

The President last week slammed the EU after a 7-member delegation of international parliamentarians, which included Europeans, criticized the campaign against illegal drugs.

• READ: Duterte blasts UN, EU anew, dares envoys to leave PH 'in 24 hrs'

The EU has denied links to the parliamentarians and involvement in the visit to Manila.