Duterte says he had a ‘death squad’ as mayor but didn’t order killings as Philippine president

Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told a Senate inquiry that he maintained a “death squad” of criminals to kill other criminals when he was mayor of a southern city. Duterte denied authorizing police to gun down thousands of alleged drug suspects while he was president — allegations the International Criminal Court is investigated as a possible crime against humanity. Duterte acknowledged at the televised hearing that he once maintained a death squad of seven “gangsters” to deal with criminals when he led Davao city. Former Sen. Leila de Lima, who was imprisoned under Duterte, said witnesses of extrajudicial killings were scared of testifying against him when he was in power.