Former President Rodrigo Duterte admitted to ordering the killing of criminals who resisted arrest during his time as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte defended his actions, asserting that police officers should not be left vulnerable to violent criminal elements.
However, he strongly denied allegations of a “Davao Death Squad” (DDS) operating under his orders.
Former Senator Leila De Lima, however, countered with claims that evidence supports the existence of the DDS and its role in extrajudicial killings allegedly linked to Duterte.
Meanwhile, former chief presidential counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo defended Duterte, insisting the previous administration’s drug war was not illegal.
Panelo argued that Duterte was simply fulfilling his duty to protect Filipinos from the threat of illegal drugs.