Rappler
Duterte’s drug war admissions make him liable for crimes against humanity — House leader
House lawmakers are calling for charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte following his admission of full legal responsibility for alleged extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign.
Duterte confirmed to the Senate that police chiefs during his term headed death squads and admitted to creating a death squad in Davao composed of gangsters to target criminals.
He also stated that he had ordered cops to "encourage" suspects to fight back so police could kill them.
House human rights committee chairperson Bienvenido Abante said Duterte's admissions make him liable for crimes against humanity, which could be penalized under Republic Act No. 9581.
Senator Risa Hontiveros stated that Duterte must be held accountable to human law before any punishment in hell, noting his admission of responsibility for the bloody war on drugs that resulted in thousands of Filipino deaths.
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno also said Duterte's admissions can be used against him in court.
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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.
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Lawmakers believe former President Rodrigo Duterte's admission of taking responsibility for the drug war can be used as grounds to file cases against him.
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Former President Rodrigo Duterte admitted under oath that he instructed police to "encourage" suspects to fight back to justify their killing, a tactic he explained as a way to avoid legal repercussions based on his experience as a criminal law instructor.
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Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros confronted former President Rodrigo Duterte, stating there is no honor in his violent anti-drug campaign, famously known as 'tokhang'.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed claims by former President Rodrigo Duterte that drug-related crimes have increased under the current administration.
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