Nureen Joy Mangaoang

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has admitted full accountability for his administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on October 28, citing national security as the reason behind his controversial policies.

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian/Noel Celis.

“I alone take full legal responsibility for everything the police have done. I am the one who should be held accountable and imprisoned, not the police who followed my orders,” he articulated.

Duterte affirmed his commitment to the police officers involved in his anti-narcotics endeavor, stating that he would take full responsibility for their actions in operations during his authority.

"I did what I had to do because kailangan kong gawin. Why? To protect the people and my country,” Duterte remarked, citing his War on Drugs.

The International Criminal Court is investigating Duterte's war on drugs for suspected crimes against humanity, with observers speculating a possible warrant of arrest for him this year.

He was welcomed at the senators' entrance by Sergeant at Arms Roberto Ancan along with Senate staff, requesting that the senators view him as a bystander instead of a former president or a friend.

Duterte expressed gratitude to the sub-panel of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for inviting him to the probe, which was tackled after the previous House probes that uncovered a "reward system" during the drug war.

He stated that he participated in the hearing to ensure the truth would finally be revealed, remarking "I am here to make an accounting of what I did as President so walang problema," when questioned about confronting critic and former Senator Leila de Lima, who arrived moments before Duterte did.

De Lima was imprisoned during Duterte's regime for suspected connections in the drug trade. 

Spectators who linked her to the drug trade have since retracted, declaring they were pressured to attest against her.

The hearing was also attended by his former aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, along with his first police chief, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who served under him from 2016 to 2022.