Mayor-elect Tomas Osmena says "what is important is that the robbers will be scared"
The incoming mayor of Cebu city in the Philippines says he will offer bounties to people for killing criminals.
Tomas Osmena said he would pay policemen $ 1,060 (£ 730) for each criminal killed and $ 106 for each one wounded, in an attempt to instil fear.
He has already rewarded an off-duty policeman who shot and injured two suspects when he came across a robbery.
The mayor's comments echo those of the incoming President, Rodrigo Duterte, who has promised to wipe out crime.
Mr Osmena, who won the mayoral elections two weeks ago, emphasised that any killing must be legal, with a licensed gun.
Filipino Cebu City Mayor-elect Tomas Osmena, (R) hands over reward money to police officer Julius Regis (L) during ceremony rites in Cebu City, Philippines, 19 May 2016.Image copyrightEPA
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Mr Osmena handed a reward to a police officer who had shot two robbers.
He gave as an example a robbery where civilians might come to the rescue and shoot the robber.
"What is important is that the robbers will be scared," he said. "I am just giving them a warning."
Police officer Julius Sadaya Regis was off duty when he chanced upon a robbery.
As the three robbers fled, Mr Regis shot two of them and duly received his reward from the mayor.
Mr Osmena said he did not care if the reward would encourage vigilantes.
"I will not compromise the safety of our people," he said. "I will defend them. I do not care who gets in the way."