MALACAÑANG said Monday that the disclosures made by a retired policeman are all part of a political drama aimed at ousting President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The demolition job against President Rodrigo Duterte continues,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said after former SPO3 Arthur Lascañas identified Duterte as the head of the vigilante group, the Davao Death Squad, when he was still mayor.
“The press conference of self-confessed hitman SPO3 Arthur Lascañas is part of a protracted political drama aimed to destroy the President and to topple his administration,” Andanar said.
“Our people are aware that this character assassination is nothing but vicious politics orchestrated by sectors affected by the reforms initiated by the Duterte administration,” the Palace official said.
Andanar also pointed out that the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Senate Committee on Justice already cleared the President of extrajudicial killing and his involvement in the Davao Death Squad.
In testimony before the Senate last year, Lascañas had denied the existence of the DDS and contradicted the testimony of self-confessed hitman Edgardo Matobato, who said his group was responsible for killing suspected criminals and Duterte’s enemies from 1988 to 2013.
More than 10 policemen from Davao City, including Lascañas, however, debunked Matobato’s DDS claim.
Andanar said the Duterte administration remains unfazed by Lascañas’ revelations.
“Bringing change is not an easy task. The Duterte administration has disturbed… the establishment. However, we remain undistracted in delivering goods and services to serve the people, not just the interest of the few,” Andanar said.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, meanwhile, cast doubts on the credibility of Lascañas, and said the timing was suspicious as well.
“He could be another Matobato as he was presented by Trillanes,” Aguirre said. “This is diversionary tactic to deflect the seriousness of the crimes committed by [Senator Leila] De Lima,” he added.
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said Lascañas is open to perjury if he will again testify in the Senate on the alleged existence of DDS and the alleged links to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The problem was, he was under oath when testified. So if he will again testify under oath, he’s open to perjury. He will definitely be charged. It’s not possible two different statements are true,” Lacson said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Lascañas was not credible.
“Personally, I find it hard to believe the incredible alternative facts that Lascañas is now asserting. After all, he was singing a completely different tune just a few months ago,” Gatchalian said.
“Taken all together, it is clear that there are serious doubts about his integrity and the credibility of his new testimony. Unless Lascañas can provide actual concrete evidence to link the President to extrajudicial killings, I would not rely too much on this retired cop’s tall tales,” he added.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said Lascañas’ statements needed to be tested through cross examinations and research.
“So we should not be surprised or jump with joy just because what was said was very explosive. Remember, they were just said. It’s not yet proof.”
He said it would be up to his colleagues if they believed his allegation should warrant another inquiry.
But opposition senators said they believed Lascañas.
His revelations, said Senator Risa Hontiveros, were a direct blow at the credibility of Duterte and undermined his moral capacity to lead.
Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV called for a Senate inquiry into the latest allegations.
De Lima said Lascañas’ revelations were explosive.
“When Lascañas came out, we were all surprised. I didn’t expect him to expose this. The investigation on this should resume. The investigation on this should be intensive. This shouldn’t be taken lightly again. On its face, what Lascañas is saying is corroborative. He can disclose more because he knows more than Mr. Edgar Matobato, since he is one of the leaders [of the DDS],” De Lima said.
“Matobato was right, as I’ve been saying. What he said was true. They ridiculed and questioned my credibility and for producing Mr. Matobato. And here comes this very explosive development from Mr. Lascañas,” she said.
“It seems that their reason for exposing this is the same, that they needed to give a public confession because of their conscience, it’s time to make amends. Their conscience couldn’t handle it,” she added. With Rey E. Requejo, PNA
