Philippine Police Will Investigate Former President Duterte's 'Killer Troop' Claim

JAKARTA - Philippine police said on Wednesday they would investigate the disclosure made by former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding a "murder force" to control crimes when he was Mayor of Davao.

Duterte has appointed a former police officer present at the Senate investigation into the deadly "war on drugs" on Monday as leader of the assassination force, whose whereabouts have been denied by his former president and ally for years.

Duterte later said the gangster, not the policeman, formed the assassination team.

Spokesperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP) Jean Fajardo said the names mentioned in the trial would be used as clues and the basis for their investigation.

He said the Head of PNP had instructed officers to uncover unsolved cases of death related to drugs, including those possibly related to the so-called assassination forces.

"If we uncover cases showing police involvement, the Head of PNP asserts that nothing will be taboo," Fajardo said in a press conference.

Human rights groups documented about 1,400 suspicious killings in Davao over the 22nd anniversary of Duterte serving as mayor.

Critics say the war on drugs he waged when he became president in 2016 had the same characteristics, with a much larger death toll.

When Duterte served as president, two people including a former police officer had testified before the Senate that they were part of a killing squad suspected of being in Davao who killed Duterte on the orders of Duterte, but legislators at the time found no evidence. Duterte's aides rejected the claim as fabrication.

Former police chief who is now a senator for Ronaldo dela Rosa, Duterte's chief law enforcement officer across the country, previously said the assassination squad was "fictity".

In Monday's hearing, he underestimated Duterte's latest statement, saying it should be considered a joke.

It is known that the Philippine war on drugs is also the subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the possibility of crimes against humanity.

According to police data, more than 6,200 people died in anti-drug operations under Duterte's leadership, where police usually say they killed suspects in self-defense.

Human rights groups believe the true number of victims of drug warfare is much larger, with thousands of users and other small dealers killed in a mysterious state by unidentified attackers.

"Duterte's confession is very, very damaging. That admission will greatly affect the ICC's decision," said human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, who also represents the families of victims of the drug war.

"He admits practically elements of crimes against humanity," he continued.

79-year-old Duterte, who was elected with promises to eradicate crime and drugs and kill thousands of dealers, did not apologize at the trial which was also attended by the victim's family.

"If you allow me back, I will do it again," he told senators.