Duterte admits telling cops to make drug suspects fight back

Former President Rodrigo Duterte stated he takes full legal and moral responsibility for his administration's bloody war on drugs but denied that killing was a policy.

He admitted to telling police to encourage suspects to fight back so they could justify killing them, stating, "Encourage them lumaban. Pagka lumaban, patayin ninyo para matapos na ang problema ko sa siyudad ko."

Duterte claimed to have viewed drug addicts as patients needing rehabilitation rather than criminals, and that rehabilitation, not fear of death, was key.

Government records indicate at least 6,200 drug suspects were killed in police operations, though human rights groups estimate the number could be as high as 30,000.

Families of drug war victims protested outside the Senate during Duterte's appearance.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero views Duterte's admissions during the hearing, particularly those made under oath, as a potential first step towards taking full responsibility for the drug war.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed deep concern over Duterte's testimony, specifically his admission of instructing police to taunt suspects to justify their killing and his statement that he would "rather have suspected drug dealers killed" than allow them due process.

The CHR has consistently condemned such statements, which they believe embolden law enforcers and foster a culture of abuse and impunity.