President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declined to comment on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements regarding the drug war during a Senate inquiry. Reporters sought Marcos’ reaction to Duterte’s admissions about his anti-drug campaign tactics, including the use of a “death squad” composed of civilians rather than police officers, and his instructions to police to provoke drug suspects into violent responses.
Marcos, who was in Batangas distributing aid to communities affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, redirected the conversation, emphasizing that his focus was on the storm’s impact on Batangas residents. “I don’t want to talk about— I need to talk about what’s happened here,” he stated.
Duterte’s testimony before the Senate included a declaration of “full, legal responsibility” for his drug war actions, indicating his intent to shield police from liability. His comments have reignited debates over accountability and the alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration’s anti-drug operations.