Push Admin

Lascañas list: Alleged sins of the Davao Death Squad

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - A professed leader of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) on Monday pinned President Rodrigo Duterte in a series of gristly assassinations during his 2-decade rule in Davao City.</p><p>Below is a summary of the allegations made by self-tagged DDS hitman, retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas.</p><div><strong>1. DDS GETS UP TO P100-K PER SLAY</strong></div><p>Members of the DDS, which was purportedly founded during the first term of Duterte as mayor, receive up to P100,000 for every hit they carry out, Lascañas alleged.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1456990" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>&quot;Sa lahat ng ginagawa naming pagpatay sa Davao city, ilibing man o itapon sa laot, ito po ay binabayaran kami ni Mayor Rody Duterte -- kadalasan P20,000; minsan P50,000; depende po estado ng target, minsan po, P100,000,&quot; he said.</p><p>(All the killings we committed, whether the bodies were buried or thrown in the sea, were paid by Mayor Rody Duterte -- most of the times, P20,000; sometimes P50,000; and depending on the status of the target, P100,000 at times.)</p><p>He said several policemen and rebel returnees were involved in DDS&#x27; first mission: a deadly raid on the house of alleged drug lord Allan Tancho.</p><p>The DDS, Lascañas said, planted a note saying &quot;Huwag pamarisan&quot; (Do not copy) after the raid that killed Tancho&#x27;s house helper.<br/><br/><strong>2. MOSQUE BOMBINGS </strong></p><p>Lascañas also accused Duterte of ordering the bombings of mosques in Davao City back in 1993 -- an allegation first bared by self-tagged DDS hitman <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/09/15/16/davao-death-squad-composed-of-cops-rebel-returnees"><strong>Edgar Matobato</strong></a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1457005" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>Duterte, he said, paid P200,000 for the bombing which he allegedly ordered in retaliation to the supposed involvement of several Muslims in the bombing of the San Pedro Cathedral.</p><p>Lascañas also confirmed that Matobato took part in the mosque bombings.</p><p>The DDS only stopped the attacks in face of speculations that a Senate inquiry will look into the situation in Davao City, he added.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/02/20/022017_mato.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Witness Edgar Matobato testifies during the joint Senate hearing on extra-judicial killings, September 2016. <cite>Joseph Vidal, PRIB/NPPA Images</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>3. MASSACRE OF KIDNAPPER&#x27;S FAMILY </strong></div><p>Duterte also paid for the death of a suspected kidnapper and his whole family, Lascañas alleged.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_3_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_3" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1456993" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>DDS hitmen, he said, ambushed the suspect&#x27;s vehicle in General Santos City and took him, his father-in-law, pregnant wife, their 4-year-old and 2 elderly helpers to a secluded area.</p><p>Duterte, he said, authorized the murder of the entire family through a phone call.</p><p>&quot;Nagbigay ng go signal si Mayor Duterte. Ang sabi niya, &#x27;Sige, malinis lang,&#x27;&quot; he alleged.</p><p>(Mayor Dutetre gave the go signal. He said, &#x27;Go ahead, just make sure it&#x27;s clean.)</p><div><strong>4. PALA ASSASSINATION </strong></div><p>Lascañas also claimed that he was among those Duterte hired to kill Jun Pala, a Davao journalist widely known for his work on exposing corruption of local politicians.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_4_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_4" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1456995" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>&quot;Galit na galit si Mayor Rody kay Jun Pala dahil sa palagi nitong atake araw-araw sa radio,&quot; he said, adding that Duterte paid P2 million for the assassination and P500,000 for &quot;operational funds.&quot;</p><p>(Mayor Rody loathed Jun Pala because of his daily tirades over the radio.)</p><p>Lascañas said Pala survived 2 ambush attempts, but Duterte told his hitmen to &quot;take their time&quot; until the journalist was eventually slain.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/05/31/16/duterte-journalists-are-killed-for-being-corrupt">Duterte: Journalists are killed for being corrupt</a></li></ul><div><strong>5. BARSABAL MURDER</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/02/20/022017_rod.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while speaking during a late night news conference at the presidential palace, January 29, 2017. <cite>Ezra Acayan, Reuters</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Duterte also allegedly ordered the abduction of religious leader identified as Jun Barsabal from Samal Island and his subsequent killing.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_5_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_5" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1457000" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>Lascañas said DDS members brought Barsabal to Duterte office, where the then mayor ordered them to &quot;Lubaan na ninyo (Kill him).&quot;</p><p>A cop claimed responsibility for the killing with the promise that Duterte will take care of him, Lascañas said.</p><div><strong>6. PARRICIDE</strong></div><p>Lascañas also confessed that his &quot;blind loyalty and obedience&quot; to Duterte pushed him to have his two brothers killed for involvement in illegal drugs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_6_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_6" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1457002" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>&quot;Isa ako sa instrument sa pagkamatay ng dalawa kong kapatid, si Cecilio at Fernando. Tanggap ko po kung ano man mangyari sa akin dahil sa sobra kong loyalty sa kanyang campaign,&quot; Lascañas told reporters.</p><p>(I was one of the instruments in the death of my two brothers, Cecilio and Fernando. I will accept whatever will happen to me because of my loyalty to his campaign.)</p><p>The cop said he was ready to die after his exposé.</p><p>&quot;Papatayin man ako, kuntento na ako na nagawa ko ang promise ko sa Diyos na magsagawa ng isang public confession,&quot; he said, fighting tears. (Even if I am killed, I am satisfied that I&#x27;ve fulfilled my promise to God to hold a public confession.)</p><p>He added that he hopes that his fellow policemen will uphold their mandate &quot;to serve and protect,&quot; instead of &quot;to serve and collect [payoffs].&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/list/tag/davao%20death%20squad">MORE STORIES: Davao Death Squad</a></li></ul>

<p>A professed leader of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) on Monday pinned President Rodrigo Duterte in a series of gristly assassinations during his 2-decade rule in Davao City.</p>

A professed leader of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) on Monday pinned President Rodrigo Duterte in a series of gristly assassinations during his 2-decade rule in Davao City.