MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to investigate the alleged “Davao Death Squad” of former President and long-time Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said they were tasked to look into it after the former Chief Executive mentioned it during a Senate hearing on Monday.
“Doon po sa latest revelation, if you monitored po ‘yung statements ng ating dating pangulo, again with due respect sa ating dating pangulo, ay may mga sinasabi siya, kini-claim niya na may death squad. Later on, binawi rin po niya,” Fajardo said.
“But this will not stop the PNP from pursuing and investigating this po. And he mentioned some names, tinuturo po niya yung ibang police po. That will be used as lead and basis of the PNP to conduct further investigation,” she added.
Fajardo also stated that PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil has instructed his personnel to extract unsolved cases of deaths linked to illegal drugs.
She added that there will be “no sacred cows” if some police officers are found involved in the alleged death squad.
Duterte mentioned before the Senate that the death squad in Davao City was made up of “gangsters” and not police officers.
“Ako, makulong sa makulong. I can make the confession now if you want. Talagang niyayari ko pero ‘wag mo naman [idamay iyong] pulis, kawawa naman…Meron akong death squad pero hindi ‘yung mga police. Sila rin yung mga gangster,” Duterte said.
“Iyong isang gangster, utusan ko, patayin mo yan. Kasi kung hindi mo patayin ‘yan, patayin kita ngayon (I can order a gangster to kill because if he doesn’t, I’d kill him right there and then),” he added./PN
