The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it would investigate the alleged “Davao Death Squad” associated with former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Duterte admitted to organizing a death squad comprised of “gangsters” instead of police officers.
“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,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said.
“But this will not stop the PNP from pursuing and investigating this case 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.
PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil deployed his personnel to take out unsolved cases of killings that are connected to the bloody drug war.
Duterte said at the first hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he wants to spare the police from liability.
“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,” he 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.
Fajardo said there would be no sacred cow in the PNP investigation and warned prosecution of any police officers found to be involved in the death squad.
Duterte said that he cannot remember the names of the supposed gangsters involved in the death squad.
“You know, when I was mayor, 43 years old, [and] I am now 73. I cannot remember the name,” he said.
“Mukhang patay naman sila lahat, Ma’am,” he added.