During the tenure of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte from 2016 to 2022, the Philippines conducted a brutal anti-narcotics campaign, in which thousands of people died.

Unjustified extrajudicial killings throughout Duterte’s term in office led an initial probe into the ‘war on drugs’ by the government’s House Quad committee, prompting the Senate to open its own investigation.

The war on drugs conducted under Durterte’s rule terrorised the country. However, the number of casualties is uncertain, with figures from several reliable resources varying greatly. Human Rights Watch claim that the government’s actions resulted in the death of 12,000 Filipinos. Multiple other sources said the numbers are closer to 6,000.

However, a 2023 study by one of the country’s most renowned universities, the University of the Philippines-Diliman, claimed deaths may top 30,000. Recorded deaths include the killings of 122 minors, among them a one-year-old.

Chair of the Senate justice committee Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III opened the inquiry on 28 October 2024, on behalf of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which investigates cases involving government officials and matters of public interest.

“I want to start our investigation by examining first the Duterte administration’s enforcement of our anti-illegal drugs laws. How effective was the Duterte war on drugs? Did it follow the laws and rules? Was it compliant with the letter of the Constitution, as well as with the values and principles contained in our Constitution?” Pimentel asked.

Duterte appeared at the hearing as a “resource person” because of his knowledge about the Philippines drug war. He admitted he oversaw a death squad during his 20 years as mayor of Davao city in the south of the country. His landslide victory as president in 2016 was partly down to his promise to replicate that anti-crime campaign nationally.

“Ang sinabi ko, ganito: ‘Encourage the criminals to fight. Encourage them to draw their guns.’ Kapag lumaban, patayin ninyo para matapos na ang problema ko sa siyudad ko,” ₁ Duterte testified.

Duterte also testified that the serving Philippine senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa was a member of the aforementioned drug squad. When asked for a clarification, Duterte retracted his statement.

Family members of drug war victims Kian De Los Santos and Jose Gonzalez were present for the inaugural hearing. Former senator Leila de Lima, a Duterte critic who was jailed for seven years on a drug-dealing charge that was eventually dropped, was also present. Chel Diokno, and former presidential spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo, also attended the hearing.

After the opening day of the hearing on 28 October, this is what occurred:

• 7 November: Duterte skipped the House Quad’s committee hearing.
• 13 November: Duterte attended the 11th day of the House Quad committee hearing. He confirmed the existence of a reward system in the Philippine Drug War, where he would gave police officers, who killed big time drug leaders, incentives or bonuses (typically in the form of money). He previously denied he implemented this system.
• 18 November: The House Quad committee postponed the continuation of the Philippine Drug War Hearing until 21 November.
• 21 November: Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said the senate has yet to schedule the next drug war probe. According to senator Pimentel, a second drug war probe is only possible if the Senate Blue Ribbon committee is given contempt power.

The Philippine Drug War is also being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Should the ICC issue a ‘red notice’ (an order to arrest and detain a named individual) on Duterte, the Philippines is obliged to comply.