- Squad is made up of gangsters, not police
- Rody has full legal and moral responsibility for the drug war
- Garma is lying, there is no reward system
In a recent Senate investigation, former President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he organized a death squad to fight crime, allegedly made up of gangsters and not policemen. According to Duterte, the squad was formed by citizens who are individuals with a penchant for violence to target criminals involved in drugs, and so that the police are not at risk of possible suspension when they kill suspects. Duterte took full responsibility for the legal and moral aspects of his anti-drug campaign, including the thousands killed when he was mayor of Davao City and then president.
Duterte also denied allegations by retired police colonel Royina Garma, who said there was a cash reward system for policemen who killed drug suspects. According to Garma, Duterte allegedly encouraged this system in the police and even tried to spread it throughout the country. But Duterte insisted that there was no formal or informal reward and stressed that he did not order anyone to kill drug suspects; instead, he emphasized the principle of self-defense. He added, he instructed the police to encourage the suspects to fight so that there would be a reason for the use of force.
In said hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Duterte about his statements and questioned the morality and legality of forming a death squad. Hontiveros criticized Duterte's casualness in using the term "death squad" which he said is against due process and human rights. Duterte, on the other hand, contended that the purpose of his orders was to prevent criminality and stressed that inciting suspects to fight was part of police self-defense. He did not accept Hontiveros' objections, and said that his stance was for the protection of innocent Filipinos.
The hearing of Randy delos Santos, uncle of Kian delos Santos, a youth killed in an alleged extrajudicial operation, was emotional. Randy criticized the police for falsely accusing his nephew of drug involvement and highlighted the lack of justice despite the court's favorable ruling. Former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, who enforces drug war policies under Duterte, offered his condolences but defended the operation, saying the store run by Kian may have been the cause of his involvement in drugs.
In addition, lawyer Chel Diokno and other experts raised concerns over the use of the words "neutralize" and "negate" in anti-drug operations, which some police may interpret as permission to kill. Dela Rosa and other former PNP chiefs explained that these terms refer to legitimate actions consistent with the use of force and not direct orders to kill. The investigation continues amid tensions and the Duterte administration facing local and international scrutiny over alleged human rights violations in the anti-drug campaign.
