RETIRED PHILIPPINE POLICEMAN SAYS DUTERTE ORDERED ‘DEATH SQUAD’ HITS

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte operated a “death squad” while mayor of Davao city, giving cash and orders for police and assassins to murder criminals, according to a former policeman who said he was involved in the clandestine killings. In remarks contradicting his denial under oath last year of the existence of such a “death squad”, Arturo Lascanas said he was one of the ringleaders of the group that began operating when Duterte became mayor of the southern city in 1988. Duterte has repeatedly denied involvement in vigilantism or summary executions, either as president or during his 22 years as Davao mayor.