During his time in office, Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, made an unexpected admission about his notorious war on drugs, revealing that he had a “death squad” that targeted drug suspects. This occurs years after Duterte’s anti-drug campaign raised concerns about extrajudicial killings from international organizations and human rights groups.
During his presidency from 2016 to 2022, Duterte’s aggressive war on drugs drew sharp criticism both domestically and globally, with activists claiming it led to thousands of unjustified deaths. His recent remarks seem to corroborate the long-held suspicions that his administration employed a covert group aimed explicitly at eliminating individuals involved in the drug trade. While Duterte had frequently implied the necessity of harsh measures to eradicate crime, he had until now denied the formal establishment of any state-sanctioned “death squad.”
Legal experts suggest that Duterte’s comments could impact ongoing investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been examining alleged human rights abuses related to his anti-drug crusade. Although Duterte maintains that his campaign was a critical response to the nation’s drug crisis, this admission could intensify scrutiny and potentially open new avenues for prosecution.
Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have underscored this as evidence supporting allegations of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. The former president’s statement has already reignited calls for justice and greater accountability for the families of victims affected by the campaign.
