Duterte: ‘No apologies, no excuses’ for drug war that killed thousands

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

FORMER Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday said he offers “no apologies, no excuses” for his war on drugs, as he appeared for the first time at a Senate hearing probing the crackdown, where thousands of drug suspects died.

“My mandate as President of the republic was to protect the country and the Filipino people,” he told a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee hearing. “Do not question my policies, because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do, and whether you believe it or not, I did it for my country.”