Former President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed the existence of his so-called death squad during a Senate probe on Monday.
“I have a death squad. Death squad, seven (members). But those are not police. They are also the gangsters. That one gangster, I order. ‘Kill that person. If you don’t kill them, I will kill you now,'” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino during the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee public hearing.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros inquired about the said squad’s structure and the identity of its alleged seven members, but Duterte did not specify any details.
“I am now 73. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name… Since I am 73 years old, I don’t even remember why I am here facing you,” the 79-year-old Duterte told Hontiveros.
“The problem is the person is dead… Don’t ask me the history of the person, they are dead,” he added.
The senator then asked the former chief executive if the death squad members were given rewards in exchange for killing people.
“Wala (None),” Duterte replied after a brief argument.
