Sara Duterte on her alleged link to Oplan Tokhang: ‘This is a new script’

Vice President Sara Duterte (File photo from Inday Sara Dutere Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday refuted claims that she was involved in ‘Oplan Tokhang’ and the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

She dismissed the allegations merely as a “new script.”

“Bago ang script na ito (This is a new script),” said Duterte in a statement.

“Sa mga taon na nagsilbi ako bilang Vice Mayor at Mayor ng Davao city, ni minsan ay hindi naugnay ang aking pangalan sa isyung ito,” she recalled.

(In the years that I served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao city, my name was never once linked to this issue.)

Duterte made the pronouncement in response to a claim made by a confessed DDS gunman – retired police officer Arturo Lascañas.

He said ‘Oplan Tokhang‘ was a brainchild of then-Mayor Duterte and her brother, former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

DDS is an alleged vigilante group believed to be behind the spate of killings of suspected drug traffickers and other criminals in Davao city.

Meanwhile, ‘Oplan Tokhang’ — coined from the Visayan word “toktok” (knock) and “hangyo” (persuade) — is a strategy which directed law enforcers to seek out suspected drug personalities.

This campaign allegedly resulted in the death of thousands of persons, most of whom were poor alleged drug pushers who law enforcers claimed to have fought back or tried to resist arrest (“nanlaban”).

According to Duterte, her name is being dragged in the issue just so that she can be included as one of the accused in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation.

ICC is probing into the bloody campaign against illegal drugs waged by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Bigla na lang nagkaroon ng testigo laban sa akin nang mahalal ako na Vice President. At kabilang na nga ako ngayon sa mga akusado sa [ICC],” said Duterte.

(There is suddenly a witness against me when I was elected Vice President. And I am now among the accused in the ICC.)

“Maliban sa tiyempo, malinaw na sadyang pinilit lang na maidugtong ang pangalan ko sa isyung ito para ako maging akusado sa ICC,” she added.

(“Besides the timing, it is clear that my name was deliberately attached to this issue so that I can be accused in the ICC.)

She reiterated ICC investigation undermines the country’s sovereignty and its own justice system.

She also challenged individuals who are tagging her as a suspect to file a case against her in Philippine courts.

“Paglapastangan ito sa dignidad ng mga Pilipino at sa karangalan ng Pilipinas,” she said.

(This is an insult to the dignity of Filipinos and the honor of the Philippines.)

“Wala na itong debate. Sa testigo at mga tao na nakapalikod sa kanya, mag-file kayo ng kasong murder laban sa akin dito sa Pilipinas,” she told her detractors.

(This is no longer a debate. To the witness and the people behind this person, file a murder case against me here in the Philippines.)

Lascañas first bared his allegations in an affidavit he executed during the six-day pre-trial investigation of ICC in February 2022.