In a recent Senate inquiry, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged that he had operated a “death squad” during his tenure as mayor of Davao City, targeting criminals. This revelation comes amidst ongoing investigations into the extensive drug-related killings that occurred during his presidency.
Duterte, 79, made his first public appearance since leaving office in 2022, where he discussed his controversial history. He confirmed that the squad consisted of seven members, all of whom were gangsters, stating, “I can make the confession now if you want. I had a death squad of seven, but they were not policemen.”
When pressed by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros for more details, the former president replied ambiguously, promising to elaborate in future hearings. Despite the serious nature of the inquiry, he maintained he never ordered his police chiefs to carry out extrajudicial killings, asking, “Did I ever tell you to kill any criminal?” Former police chief Ronald dela Rosa replied, “No, Mr. president.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity resulting from his aggressive anti-drug campaign, which has left thousands dead. Duterte expressed confusion as to why no criminal charges have been filed against him in Philippine courts, quipping, “I’ve been killing people for a long time, and they haven’t filed any case up to now.”
Former Senator Leila de Lima, who has been a vocal critic of Duterte, argued that there is substantial evidence and witnesses to support claims of extrajudicial killings. De Lima was imprisoned on drug charges she claimed were fabricated to thwart her investigations but was released last year.
De Lima lamented that Duterte has evaded justice for too long and suggested that new witnesses might come forward to hold him accountable. Arturo Lascanas, a retired police officer, previously stated that up to 10,000 suspects may have been killed in Davao under Duterte’s directives.
Throughout the inquiry, Duterte remained defiant, stating, “If I’m given another chance, I’ll wipe all of you,” referring to drug dealers and criminals.
Duterte ended his six-year presidency in June 2022, marked by a notorious war on drugs that resulted in widespread fatalities. His administration was characterized by his inflammatory rhetoric against human rights, the media, and political opposition, leading many activists to label him a “human rights calamity.”
Credit: ABC News
