Davao police chief says death squad doesn't exist

The head of the Davao City police on Tuesday denied the existence of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), contrary to retired SPO3 Arthur Lascañas' confession that the group existed and carried out summary executions for President Rodrigo Duterte, then mayor of Davao City.

In a report by Maki Pulido on Balita Pilipinas, Davao City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria said the Davao Police carries a good reputation and does not operate any "death squad." 

Dubria noted that five of the police officers identified by Lascañas in a press conference on Monday and self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato in a Senate inquiry last year to be DDS members have retired. 

These were SPO4 Dick Cloribel, SPO4 Ben Laud, SPO3 Gerry Baguhin, SPO3 Teodoro Paguidopon, and SPO4 Sonny Buenaventura. 

Dubria also said SPO4 Boy Pavo and a certain Major Macasaet were already dead.

Only SPO1 Jun Tan remains in police service, added Dubria.

Some neighbors of Lascañas at Roseville Subdivision who were interviewed by GMA News claimed people in their neighborhood feared Lascañas, who supposedly has a reputation for having a short temper and brandishing his firearm when mad.

His neighbors said they only know Lascañas as one of Duterte's bodyguards.

Tricycle drivers, meanwhile, recalled Lascañas being kind to them, adding that the retired policeman often gave them P200 every Christmas Day. 

On Monday, Lascañas admitted once being part of the DDS, saying Duterte paid up to P100,000 for each drug suspect killed. 

Lascañas even claimed killing an entire family in General Santos City and that he was hired by Duterte to assassinate radio broadcaster Jun Pala in 2003. 

Lascañas testified before the Senate inquiry in October last year on the alleged extrajudicial killings in Davao City, and denied the claim of Matobato that the DDS exists.  He said the DDS was just a “media hype.” — Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM, GMA News