Duterte admits encouraging suspects to fight back, acknowledges death squads

Former President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee's inaugural hearing on illegal drugs, surprising many with his admission of encouraging suspects to fight back so police could justify killing them.

Duterte admitted he had a death squad in Davao City consisting of gangsters and not police officers. He claimed these individuals were rich people who wanted their city safe for business.

He also acknowledged that some of the police generals present at the hearing led death squads, including Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, because they killed criminals in the line of duty.

Duterte's admissions could strengthen the basis for a warrant against those involved in the International Criminal Court probe into Duterte’s drug war killings.