Senate sets probe on Lascañas’ claims

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo Lacson has tentatively set the Senate inquiry into the claims of retired police officer Arthur Lascañas next week, even as some senators want the Office of the Ombudsman to handle the probe instead.        

Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said he already received the affidavit of Lascañas, who said the Davao death squad (DDS) exists and had committed numerous murders upon the orders of President Duterte, then mayor of Davao City.        

Lacson said he would push through with the inquiry, unless new developments on the floor would change the referral of the resolution of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who called for the investigation by the committee.

“Nobody’s stopping me, as I’ve said, even if I’m not willing,” Lacson said. “They (senators) gave me the mandate (to investigate), the obligation…As of now, the status quo is it (resolution) is referred to my committee.”         

He explained the resolution should have been referred to the committee on justice headed by Sen. Richard Gordon. Gordon’s committee had previously investigated extrajudicial killings.

Gordon said the ombudsman, not the Senate, is the proper body to hear the recent claims of Lascañas. 

In a privilege speech delivered last week, Gordon pointed out that if Lascañas and the people behind him really have evidence to support his allegations that Duterte paid P20,000 to P100,000 to kill people, they could file a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman.