Church bells will be rung every night for three months to raise alarm over a sharp spike in police killings of drug suspects under President Rodrigo Duterte.

A Catholic priest who was taken hostage by militants linked to the Islamic State group says he's being held alongside 200 other captives, including children.

The Philippine president said his public death threats scare drug suspects into stop selling drugs.

Duterte questioned the relevance of Catholic bishops, citing his overwhelming victory in the May 9 presidential election despite efforts by them to persuade Filipinos not to vote for him.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reached out to his opponents following a bruising three-month campaign.