After one hearing on Monday, the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs ended its probe on the testimony of Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS).
Panel chair Senator Panfilo Lacson said that Lascañas' credibility is in question, as reports surfaced that the dance instructor (DI) whom he claimed was killed by DDS hitman Edgar Matobato turned out to be alive.
"Anong gagawin mo kung buhay ang DI ni Jocelyn Duterte?" said Lacson, referring to the sister of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Matobato previously said that Duterte ordered the killing of his sister's DI after he found out that they are having a romantic affair.
Lacson said he and his colleagues decided to conclude the probe as Lascañas was not able to substantiate his claims against Duterte.
“Nag adjourn na kami kasi paikot-ikot na lang. Unless may isang tatayo na senador para mag motion to reopen the hearing depending on the witnesses and evidence that will be presented," the senator said.
Lacson told Lascañas that he needs to show concrete evidence that Duterte has a direct involvement in the killings when he was still mayor of Davao.
Earlier, Senator Manny Pacquiao moved that Lascañas be cited for contempt but was immediately countered by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Vicente Sotto III.
Pacquioa argued that Lascañas' lies must not be tolerated by the Senate.
Lascañas maintained that no one is behind him and that it was his conscience telling him to discuss the truth.
"Hindi ko kaya baunin sa aking libingan ang mga nagawa kong kasalanan. Wala pong nagtulak sa akin," he said
Lascañas, the alleged DDS leader, even said the he receives a monthly allowance of P100,000 from Duterte until January of this year.
"Mabait po sa akin si Mayor Duterte. Mayroon po akong monthly allowance na P100,000 sa kanya. Huling kuha ko last January 2017. Pebrero pagkatapos ako lumabas hindi na ako nakatanggap. Si Mayor Duterte din ang nagbayad sa aking kidney transplant last October 2015 [halagang] P200,000, at P100,000 binigay ni Sir Bong Go," he said.
Lascañas also previously said that Philippine National Police and then-Davao City police chief Ronald Dela Rosa was aware of his group's operations.
Source: Sun Star
Images: Sun Star | Inquirer
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