Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Arturo Lascañas
A HOUSE leader on Tuesday said he wants to invite self-confessed member of the infamous Davao Death Squad (DDS) Arturo Lascañas and other former members to the House of Representatives probe on the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration
House Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon said resource persons such as Lascañas and former DDS member Edgar Matobato can be rich sources of information on how the EJKs were conducted, if there were any, during the Duterte administration.
“Siguro kailangan din ho natin imbitahan ulit si Lascañas, sila Matobato, because these persons are involved in the Davao Death Squad,” said Bongalon during the daily press briefings at the House of Representatives.
“I guess these individuals will enlighten us on what is really the true nature of the anti-drug war campaign of the previous administration. Kasi hindi naman sila nabigyan talaga ng pagkakataon na ihayag ang lahat ng kanilang nalalaman at ang katotohanan laban dito sa illegal na droga,” he added.
“I guess with the Committee on Human Rights chaired by Congressman Benny Abante, I hope this will enlighten us once and for all about the real situation of the drug campaign during the previous administration,” he said.
Another lawmaker, Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio, also wants to know if there was a secret directive given to police officials and anti-drug agents to commit EJKs during the Duterte administration.
“Real talk lang, ano. Yung mga EJK, kung titignan niyo, hindi siya isolated case eh. Hindi siya nangyayari sa isang lungsod lamang o isang lugar o probinsya lang, it happened sa buong bansa natin,” Dionisio said.
“It leads to the question: kung meron bang secret directive na nangyari sa PNP nung nakaraang administrasyon? You know these things are very hard to answer until matapos natin yung mga hearing. Bawat buhay, mahalaga yan eh, kaya hindi makapapayag ang leadership ng Congress na hindi natin malaman ang puno’t dulo nitong EJK,” he added.
