In a recent Senate subcommittee hearing, former President Rodrigo Duterte stated that Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was a "commander" of the notorious Death Squad, a designation that Duterte later downplayed as a "very loose term" associated with police operations in Davao City.
"Yang nakaupo dyan, si Sen. dela Rosa, death squad din 'yan. Because they were police directors handling and controlling crimes in the city. Kapag sinabi mong death squad, it's a very loose term. Lahat 'yan, si [retired police Maj Gen Vicente] Danao, 'yan nagdadasal kasi sa kasalanan niya siguro. Ilan ba pinatay mo?" said the former president.
Duterte's remarks came in response to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who requested the playing of a video about the Davao Death Squad.
Encouraging cops to fight
In a striking admission, Duterte revealed that he instructed police officials to "encourage" criminals to fight back, asserting that this would provide justification for their deaths.
"Ang sinabi ko ganito, parangkahan tayo, encourage the criminals to fight," he stated, emphasizing that such tactics were meant to resolve issues with crime in his city.
Among those implicated in these directives were former police chiefs Archie Gamboa, Vicente Danao, and, notably, Dela Rosa. He referred to these officials as "commanders of death squads" in Davao City.
Hontiveros challenged Duterte's assertions, labeling the practice as "very incorrect."
Duterte countered by asserting his extensive experience in governance, suggesting that Hontiveros lacked the practical knowledge required to effectively manage community issues.
Despite the gravity of his comments, Duterte maintained that there were no state-sponsored killings or official mandates for police or military personnel to execute suspects. He insisted that any deaths were a consequence of criminals choosing to fight back against law enforcement.
