Duterte at Senate drug war probe: I offer no apologies, no excuses

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday offered no apologies or excuses as he faced a Senate probe into his bloody war on drugs for the first time.

“My mandate as President of the Republic was to protect the country and this Filipino people,” Duterte said, reading from his prepared statement during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee.

“Don’t question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do and whether you believe it or not, I did it for my country,” he stressed.

READ: The Duterte Administration

The former leader then went on to defend his administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign which resulted in the deaths of thousands of drugs suspects.

“The war on illegal drugs is not about killing people. It’s about protecting the innocent and the defenseless,” Duterte said.

The war on drugs, he added, is also about the eradication of illegal substances such as shabu, cocaine, marijuana, and party drugs.

“I have always viewed people addicted to illegal drugs as victims and patients requiring medical help and not as criminals,” he also said.

So instead of fearing death or incarceration, Duterte said he advocates for the rehabilitation of drug addicts so they could go back to the “mainstream of a just and forgiving society.”

His remark, however, contradicted the sentiments of the families of slain drug suspects and other victims of the ruthless war on illegal drugs during his presidency.

Some of them held a rally outside the Senate building in Pasay City before the committee began its hearing at 10:00 a.m.

READ:LOOK: Pro and anti-Duterte groups’ standoff outside Senate

Before reading his statement, Duterte thanked the Senate panel for inviting him to the hearing and requested not to be treated as a president or a friend.

“Treat me as a witness at tingnan antin kung lalabas ‘yung totoo (let’s see if the truth will come out),” he said.