In a recent televised Senate inquiry, former President Rodrigo Duterte's defiant and combative demeanor brought back painful memories for families of victims of the deadly 'war on drugs' during his rule. Duterte, seeking a new term as mayor, denied authorizing extrajudicial killings but admitted to maintaining a 'death squad' as a mayor.
The thousands of killings under Duterte's administration have sparked international scrutiny, with human rights groups estimating the death toll to exceed 20,000. The issue has also fueled political tensions within Duterte's family and the broader Philippine political landscape.
