Duterte takes responsibility for drug war before Senate panel

Former President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on Monday and stated he would take 'full legal and moral responsibility' for his administration's bloody war on drugs.

During the hearing, Duterte defended police officials involved in the drug war, saying they were following orders and should not face consequences for their actions.

He emphasized that his mandate as president was to protect Filipinos from illegal drugs, viewing those addicted as victims needing medical help rather than criminals.

Former Senator Leila de Lima questioned Duterte's alleged policy of killings drug offenders during the hearing, challenging his defense.

Senator Risa Hontiveros called for Duterte to be held accountable under human law before facing any punishment in hell, emphasizing that illegal drugs remain a problem but ordering killings is never the solution.

Hontiveros urged the Department of Justice and International Criminal Court investigators to review Duterte's admissions about his death squad and orders to police officers to 'encourage' suspects to fight back so they could be summarily executed.

She also called for the amendment of Executive Order 2 s. 2016's exclusion list and the release of publicized police records related to the drug war, stressing that justice and reform are necessary through these hearings.