As the Senate begins its investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Senator Risa Hontiveros denounced the “tokhang” anti-drug operations, asserting that Filipinos should never be proud of the campaign’s harsh methods. Speaking before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, Hontiveros criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte’s previous statements about killing in the name of peace, calling for lawmakers to recognize the suffering experienced by victims of the drug war.
“Sa lahat ng nagsasabi na ang war on drugs ay parusa daw para sa mga naliligaw ang landas, my message to you is this: There is no honor in punishment like tokhang,” Hontiveros stated, underscoring the loss of innocent lives, including children, as a stain on the nation’s conscience.
Oplan Tokhang, a central part of Duterte’s anti-drug initiative, involved police going door-to-door urging people to abandon drug use. However, government data shows at least 6,200 suspects were killed during operations from 2016 to 2021. Human rights groups, however, estimate the actual toll could be as high as 30,000 due to unreported cases.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief and chief implementer of the drug war, attended the hearing as both a panel member and resource person. “I have been tagged multiple times as the ‘face’ of the war on drugs,” Dela Rosa said, asserting his intent to “tell the truth” and address criticisms of the campaign.
Former President Duterte was present at the hearing, signaling the importance of the inquiry into one of his administration’s most controversial policies.