Duterte admits 'wrongful killing' for first time in drug war

In a speech to government officials at the presidential palace yesterday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte once again mentioned his war on drugs. This campaign has left thousands of people dead and caused many controversies regarding its correctness, according toNew York Times.

Duterte said the military and police generals could remove him from office if they were unhappy with his performance. "I asked the military, 'What is my mistake? Did I steal a single peso?'" the Philippine president said. "My only mistake is extrajudicial killings."

Duterte did not elaborate, but the remarks marked the first time he has publicly acknowledged that extrajudicial killings have occurred in the Philippines' war on drugs under his watch.

In late August, activists and families of eight people killed in the war on drugs filed a petition with the International Criminal Court (ICC) calling for the prosecution of President Duterte for "thousands of extrajudicial killings."

Those who oppose Duterte’s anti-drug campaign have been “persecuted,” while complaints from families of drug victims killed in the campaign have “sunk,” according to the lawsuit. This is the second complaint filed against Duterte at the ICC. A Philippine lawyer filed a similar complaint against him in April 2017.

After becoming president of the Philippines in June 2016, Duterte launched a war on drugs with the strong support of the national police force. However, his campaign faced a strong backlash from domestic and international public opinion, with accusations that the police abused their power and committed many extrajudicial killings.