Duterte Defends Drug War, Admits Death Squad in Senate Inquiry on October 28

Oct 28, 2024, 06:22 AM

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attended a Senate inquiry on October 28, marking his first appearance before lawmakers since stepping down in 2022. The inquiry, led by the Blue Ribbon Committee, focused on his administration’s controversial war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths. Duterte defended his actions, stating, 'I offer no apologies, no excuses, I did what I had to do.' He admitted to ordering police to encourage suspects to fight back, providing an excuse for extrajudicial killings. Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, a key figure in the drug war, also testified. The hearing included testimonies from other key figures and critics of the campaign, while families of victims held a vigil outside the Senate. Duterte asserted, 'only I will go to jail' for the killings, taking full legal responsibility for the actions taken during his tenure. He also admitted to maintaining a 'death squad' during his time as mayor. The drug war is also under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).