Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, has acknowledged the existence of a “death squad” during his tenure as mayor of a major city, aimed at combating crime. In his initial testimony regarding the controversial anti-drug campaign, Duterte revealed that this squad consisted of gangsters, stating that he would threaten them with death if they failed to carry out orders. He gained the presidency in 2016 by promising to extend his aggressive anti-crime measures from Davao City to the entire country.

The nationwide drug war led to numerous deaths of suspected offenders in contentious police actions and is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court. During a recent senate hearing, Duterte admitted to instructing police officers to provoke suspects into resisting arrest, thereby providing a justification for lethal force. He stated firmly, “Do not question my policies; I offer no apologies or excuses. I acted for my country because I despise drugs.”

Despite his admissions, Duterte insisted he never authorized police chiefs to execute suspects and clarified that the death squad comprised “gangsters,” not law enforcement officials. He confessed to having a small team of seven individuals involved but maintained their actions were independent of police directives.

Duterte remained resolute in his stance, claiming criminal activities surged again after he left office. He expressed a willingness to continue his hardline approach if given another opportunity, declaring, “I’ll wipe all of you.”

This hearing marked Duterte’s first appearance before an inquiry into his anti-drug efforts since leaving the presidency in 2022. It was also significant as he faced critics and families affected by the drug war, including former senator Leila de Lima, who had been imprisoned on drug-related charges that were later dismissed.

According to government figures, over 6,252 individuals have reportedly been killed by police and unidentified assailants during Duterte’s campaign against drugs; however, human rights organizations suggest that the death toll may reach tens of thousands. A previous report from the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights indicated that Duterte’s rhetoric could be interpreted as granting police informal authorization for lethal force.

While authorities claim many victims were involved in drug trafficking or related crimes and were killed in self-defense during confrontations, families often contend that their loved ones were merely caught in unfortunate situations. The drug war has drawn widespread criticism globally while also garnering some support domestically in a nation grappling with widespread substance abuse issues.