No proof of state killings, death squad existence–Senate committee

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon discuss during the Nov. 23 Senate hearing on the killing Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. —INQUIRER PHOTO

There is no proof of state-sponsored killings in the country and that a Davao Death Squad exists.

These are the findings of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, and the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, that investigated the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.

A 19-page executive summary of the report of the joint committees was released to the media on Wednesday night.

“There is no proof that there is state-sponsored policy to commit killings to eradicate illegal drugs in the country,” the summary read.

“However, the committee took note of the many thousands of killings with impunity taking place every year in the last two decades at least,” it said.

The report also said there was no evidence “sufficient to prove that a Davao Death Squad exists.”

The Senate probe was initiated by Sen. Leila de Lima, who previously headed the justice committee until she was ousted and replaced by Gordon.