De Lima: Witness links Duterte to Davao Death Squad

THE government has a witness to link Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to the vigilante group Davao Death Squad (DDS).

DDS has been tagged as responsible for the summary executions of some 1,020 to 1,040 people between 1998 and 2008.

“Iyong witness namin pinangalanan niya kung sinu-sino yung mga gumagawa nyan allegedly on order of Mayor Duterte. Pinangalanan niya,” de Lima said.

De Lima said the witness, a former member of the DDS, claimed to be responsible for the death of some of DDS’ victims.

“He even claims to be responsible for the death of a number of victims as part of the DDS and purportedly on orders of Mayor Duterte,” de Lima added.

Earlier, de Lima said the witness’ testimony is the basis of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) case buildup against the group.

“The NBI is already doing a case buildup on the Davao Death Squad on the basis of what was disclosed by this witness,” De Lima told reporters.

De Lima said the case buildup on the DDS started almost simultaneously when the NBI filed with the DOJ multiple murder and frustrated murder charges against former Tagum City Mayor Rey “Chiong” Uy and 29 others, including retired and current police officers, former local officials and alleged hitmen.

The charges were filed in connection with 82 extrajudicial killings and two murder attempts in Tagum City, the town of Dujali in Davao del Norte, Maco and Wahab in Compostela Valley and Butuan City. AC