Duterte admits hundreds killed while he was mayor

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte yesterday denied forming a task force to kill criminals, even as he admitted that hundreds of them died while he was mayor of Davao City.

Duterte said he does not play favorites with the security forces and that he relays his directives to police chiefs.

“There is no task force. You can see that I give the orders to the chief, to Bato (nickname of Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa). Wala akong bata-bata na ganoon (I don’t play favorites). Even in the military,” the President said.

“Didn’t I say it? Every now and then, do not create a cult or rido (clash). I do not need it. I said, I do not need it, I do not like it,” he added. “I do not believe in favoritism. Whatever I give to other units, I also give to the rest.”

Earlier, retired policeman Arthur Lascañas accused Duterte of operating the so-called Davao death squad and ordering the execution of criminals while he was still mayor of Davao City.

Lascañas’ claim was a departure from his previous statement last October that the death squad did not exist.  

Asked to react to the self-confessed hit man’s decision to recant his previous statement, Duterte said: “Oh, well … There might be another one coming after recant of the recant. I’m sure.”

“I did not deny that hundreds of criminals died in Davao City. In my 23 years? Eh talagang naubos (They were really eliminated). But, you know, I’m an employee of the government, I built a city and I will build a nation,” he added.

Asked if he knows Lascañas, Duterte replied: “Well, as a policeman, yes. I saw him once, twice a year.”

Duterte said his directives to law enforcers as mayor of Davao City and as president did not change.

“(My orders were) just the same. Do not destroy my country, do not deprive us of our young people. You will die. They’re the same orders that I’m giving here,” the President said.

Duterte lamented that some policemen pocketed the money given to them to buy illegal drugs for their sting operations.

“It so happened that, some policemen f****d up, because you know you have to give the police money, because if they go out and hunt for trafficking of drugs, there must be a selling and a buying, otherwise there is no trafficking,” he said.

Malacañang has dismissed Lascañas’ statements as “vicious politics,” orchestrated by sectors affected by reforms made by the Duterte administration.