De Lima: Duterte must be held criminally liable for ties with Davao Death Squad

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should be held criminally liable for the killings committed by the Davao Death Squad (DDS), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

De Lima made the statement after Duterte admitted in a local television program his link to the feared death squad.

“They say I am the death squad? True, that is true,” Duterte said over “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” television program aired Sunday.

“I am not saying these things because there is an election next year. I am not saying these things [because] he is a possible presidentiable. I don’t care about those things. I am just being consistent because I used to be the chair of the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) and I am a human rights advocate and defender,” de Lima said.

“Those statements are simply unacceptable and for society to accept those kinds of statements is really quite unacceptable and reprehensible,” de Lima added.

She said “killing is killing no matter what,” stressing that if Duterte has admitted that he is responsible for those killings, “then he must be held criminally liable.” AC