Duterte EJK ‘admission’ wryly amuses, disgusts victims' families

After President Rodrigo Duterte "admitted" that he was responsible for the extra-judicial killings connected to the government's war on drugs, the victims' families on Friday called on the chief executive put an end to all the drug-related killings.

Randy delos Santos, the uncle of Grade 11 student Kian delos Santos, who was allegedly killed by police officers after he allegedly resisted arrest, said that since Duterte took responsibility for the extra-judicial deaths, that meant that he had the power to put an end to these executions.

"Sana itigil na niya. Maykapangyarihan naman siya siguro na itigil ang extra-judicial killings. Kung inamin naman niya na may kasalanan siya extra judicial killing, itigil na niya," said Randy on GMA 7 late night news program "Saksi"

As for Duterte's admission, Randy said, "Natawa lang ako. Kasi dati daw walang extra-judcial killings. Pero sinabi niya meron, kaslanan niya pa."

During a Thursday speech before new career government officials, Duterte had said, "Ano kasalanan ko? Nagnakaw ba ako dyan ni piso? Did I prosecute somebody na pinakulong ko? Ang kasalanan ko lang 'yung mga extrajudicial killing."

Meanwhile, Harra Bertes, whose spouse Renato and son JP were killed while inside a Pasay City police station, again after they allegedly resisted arrest, was disgusted by the president's admission.

"Kasalanan lang, ‘lang’ ha," responded Harra. "Alam mo yung parang, kung baga parang maliit lang na bagay yung ginawa niya. Parang simpleng aso lang ang napatay niyo, na... ano ba kayo?"

According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency statistics, 4,854 "personalities" were killed in anti-drugs operations from July 1, 2026 to August 31, 2018.

However, non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch reported that more than 12,000 drug suspects had been killed in the war on drugs. — DVM, GMA News