WATCH: Rodrigo Duterte arrives at Senate for drug war probe

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday morning arrived at the Senate to face the blue ribbon committee’s investigation into his administration's war on drugs.

In an ambush interview, Duterte said he implemented the bloody anti-drug campaign to “protect” the Filipinos.

“I did what I had to do because kailangan kong gawin [I need to do it]. Why? To protect the people and my country,” the former chief executive said.

Asked if he has any regrets on the campaign, Duterte said, “Drug war, well, it is for the Filipino to make the judgment.”

The House of Representatives Quad Committee is also looking into the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs.

Duterte also said he has no problem with possibly facing former Senator Leila de Lima, who was detained in Camp Crame since February 2017 over allegations of drug trade, which she has repeatedly denied.

“I am here to make an accounting of what I did as President, so walang problema [there’s no problem],” he said.

In November 2023, De Lima was freed on bail after nearly seven years in detention.

Duterte also said he hopes there will be a fair treatment in the Senate probe.

Government records show that there were at least 6,200 drug suspects killed in police operations from June 2016 to November 2021, but several human rights groups have refuted this and say that the number may have reached as much as 30,000 due to unreported related killings. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News