Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has denied the accusations made by former Davao City police officer Arturo Lascañas on her involvement in “Oplan Tokhang” during her term as mayor of Davao City.

Duterte said in a video message on Thursday that she has never been involved in the issue in the years that she served as the vice mayor and mayor of the city.

“Bago ang script na ito. Sa mga taon na nagsilbi ako bilang vice mayor at mayor ng Davao City, ni minsan ay hindi naugnay ang aking pangalan sa isyung ito,” she said.

“Bigla na lang nagkaroon ng testigo laban sa akin nang mahalal ako na Vice President. At kabilang na nga ako ngayon sa mga akusado ng International Criminal Court,” Vice President Duterte added.

According to the vice president, her name is being dragged around so she can be part of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the extrajudicial killing that is being linked to his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking to reporters via Zoom on Friday from an undisclosed location outside the country, Lascañas said he was part of the original Davao Death Squad (DDS), which supposedly carried out the killings.

He further claimed that 'Oplan Tokhang' is Sara Duterte's brainchild alongside Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, whom she appointed as the chief of Davao City police back in 2012.