The recent Senate hearings on the war on illegal drugs have revealed troubling truths. From 2016 to 2022, the State itself appeared to act against the people, wielding power in ways that allegedly amounted to criminal acts.
The severe violations of the rule of law occurred when the State assumed the roles of police, judge, and executioner, bypassing the judicial system in a failed attempt to eradicate drug sales and trafficking. The extrajudicial killings of at least 6,000 Filipinos by police forces left deep scars on their families and communities. A purported state policy of “accuse and kill” encouraged police and hired guns to act with impunity, void of moral or legal accountability. The impact on the collective psyche of the Filipino people has been profound and lasting.
At one Senate hearing, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, a Catholic priest, bravely spoke up for the victims and condemned the human rights violations inflicted upon them and their families. Human Rights Watch and other organizations estimate that up to 30,000 may have died in the anti-drug campaign. Independent investigations by human rights groups and officials from the International Criminal Court are ongoing, probing the devastating toll on human life.
During the hearing, Fr. Villanueva and Randy delos Santos—uncle of teenager Kian Loyd delos Santos, who was shot by police in Caloocan in August 2017—unfurled a long scroll listing 312 names of individuals reportedly killed by police. Many of the families left behind are now supported by Fr. Villanueva’s care program.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa, the former police general under President Rodrigo Duterte who allegedly led a death squad in Davao City, dismissed the evidence as propaganda. He questioned why Fr. Villanueva had not filed charges. Mr. Delos Santos responded that, although there were ongoing cases, no official police investigations into these deaths had taken place.
Fr. Villanueva countered that if 6,000 drug suspects had indeed “fought back,” then 6,000 guns should have been recovered as evidence. “Where are they?” he asked. He testified that guns with the same serial numbers were found at multiple locations where suspects were killed, suggesting the weapons were planted to simulate shootouts rather than executions. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reached a similar conclusion in a 2020 report.
Duterte made a stunning admission during the Oct. 28 hearing. Referring to the police killings, he said, “Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do … I alone take full legal responsibility for everything the police have done pursuant to my order. I will be accountable; I will be the one who will go to jail; spare the police who followed my orders. I pity them; they just did their job.”
The former president also admitted he had instructed police to provoke suspects to resist so they would have a reason to kill them: “Let’s be frank. I said, encourage the criminal to fight, encourage them to draw their guns. That was my instruction … and if they fight, then kill them, so my problem in my city is done.” His statement left those in attendance stunned into silence.
Only Sen. Risa Hontiveros questioned him further: “Para masabing nanlaban (Just to say the suspect fought back)?”
“Correct,” Duterte replied.
Hontiveros countered, “It is very incorrect, if I may say as a civilian.”
The ex-president responded dismissively, suggesting she had no experience running a city. “If I were to go back to service, I’d do it again, twice over,” he added, met with applause from the gallery. Former senator Leila de Lima observed that Duterte’s admissions confirmed both the Davao Death Squad’s existence and his involvement.
“These admissions are very clear: the Davao Death Squad liquidating criminals and suspected criminals, encouraging people to kill, directly or indirectly, is not part of the job of an executive official, whether as mayor or president,” de Lima told the hearing.
The Senate hearing appeared to trivialize justice, with some senators seeming to downplay the admissions of Duterte and Senator Dela Rosa.
This writer, having previously reported on killings of street children and human rights workers in Davao City by the Davao Death Squad, faced libel charges from then-mayor Benjamin de Guzman. Yet, when public support for the victims swelled, de Guzman withdrew the charges. No matter the attempts to downplay mass murder, the perpetrators must be held accountable for their grievous crimes.
Irish Father Shay Cullen, SSC, established the Preda Foundation in Olongapo City in 1974 to promote human rights and the rights of children, especially victims of sex abuse. The views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of LiCAS.news.
