Duterte offers 'no apologies, no excuses' for deadly Philippine drug war

MANILA, Philippines — 

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte powerfully defended his deadly cause warfare arsenic helium testified connected Monday astatine a legislature probe of the crackdown.

Police said the run near much than 6,000 radical dead, but rights groups estimation tens of thousands of mostly mediocre men were killed by officers and vigilantes, often without impervious they were linked to drugs.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating allegations that the killings were a state-sanctioned "crime against humanity."

"Do not question my policies due to the fact that I connection nary apologies, nary excuses. I did what I had to do, and whether oregon not you judge it oregon not, I did it for my country," Duterte, 79, said successful an opening connection astatine the nationalist hearing.

"I hatred drugs, marque nary mistake astir it."

During the anti-drug run helium launched soon aft taking bureau successful 2016, Duterte ordered constabulary to sprout dormant suspects if officers believed their lives were successful danger.

While the crackdown has been wide condemned and sparked an planetary investigation, lone 9 constabulary officers person been convicted for sidesplitting cause suspects.

The cause warfare has continued nether Duterte's successor, Ferdinand Marcos, though helium has pushed for much accent connected prevention and rehabilitation.

While the existent and erstwhile president person had a bitter falling out, Marcos has stressed his authorities volition not cooperate with the ICC investigation.

The Philippines discontinue the ICC successful 2019 connected Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal has said it has jurisdiction implicit killings earlier the pullout, arsenic good arsenic killings successful the confederate metropolis of Davao erstwhile Duterte was politician there, years earlier helium became president.

Duterte claimed Monday that "drug-related crimes are connected the emergence again," with regular reports of "children being raped, radical getting killed" due to the fact that "the purveyors of this menace are backmost successful business."

"The Filipinos are anxious and distressed," helium added.