Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog Partylist has called on former President Rodrigo Duterte to appear before the Quad-Committee following his recent Senate testimony regarding his anti-drug campaign.
Acidre denounced Duterte’s defiant stance, insisting he answers for the consequences of his actions and urging Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to recuse himself from the Senate inquiry, given his deep involvement in Duterte’s policies.
“Duterte’s admissions about his ‘death squad’ and his chilling willingness to command extrajudicial killings reveal a leader who has absolutely no regard for human life,” Acidre stated. “It’s appalling that he continues to hide behind the facade of a tough-on-crime persona while leaving a trail of bloodshed in his wake.”
During a recent Senate hearing, Duterte, who became president in 2016 on a promise to replicate his Davao City anti-crime tactics on a national scale, admitted to directing a group of gangsters to eliminate perceived threats. He callously instructed police to provoke suspects into confrontations to justify their killings, defiantly declaring, “Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do.”
The Philippine government estimates that over 6,252 people have been killed in the drug war, although human rights organizations argue the actual toll could be in the tens of thousands.
For many families, Duterte’s reckless approach has left an indelible mark of grief and loss. Acidre emphasized that the Quad-Committee inquiry is critical in seeking the truth and dismantling Duterte’s dangerous bravado.
“Senator Dela Rosa’s involvement is a glaring conflict of interest,” Acidre remarked. “His complicity in these policies undermines any attempt at impartiality. This investigation must focus on justice for families left mourning loved ones lost too soon, not shielding the powerful from accountability.”
This testimony marked Duterte’s first public encounter with the families of victims, as well as former senator Leila de Lima, a prominent critic who endured years of wrongful imprisonment on drug charges that have since been dismissed.
Acidre stressed the need for a transparent inquiry, underscoring that justice for the victims must remain the priority.
“We must hold Duterte and his enablers accountable for the senseless violence they unleashed on this nation,” Acidre concluded. “The Filipino people deserve justice, not hollow excuses and justifications from a leader who has caused nothing but chaos and suffering.”