Duterte: I hired a "death squad" of criminals to kill other criminals
Manila, October 29 (Hibya) - Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated during a Senate inquiry into drug-related murders that, as mayor, he hired a "death squad" of criminals to kill other criminals.
79-year-old Duterte, making his first public appearance since his term ended in 2022, said he would offer "no apology or excuse" for his presidency in the "war on drugs," during which around 30,000 people were killed.
Duterte said, "As President of the Republic, my duty was to protect the country and the Filipino people. Do not question my policies, because I offer no apologies and no excuses. I did what I had to do, and believe it or not, I did it for my country." Duterte entered the court with a cane and frequently used harsh language while challenging the senators throughout the hearing.
It is estimated that between July 2016 and March 2019, between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed in the Philippines. Most of the victims were young men from poor urban areas who were shot dead on the streets or in their homes.
Duterte is under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity due to murders that occurred in Davao in the country's south during his time as mayor and president. Current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously said he would not cooperate with the court, but relations between the Duterte and Marcos families have soured in recent months, which might alter his stance.
Duterte denied giving police the authority to kill suspects, saying he never ordered national police chiefs to carry out extrajudicial executions. However, he admitted to forming a "death squad" of seven "gangsters" while he was mayor of Davao City before becoming president.
Duterte said, "If you want, I can confess now. I had a death squad of seven people, but they were not police officers; they were gangsters."
Albania News Agency