VP Sara on alleged link to Oplan Tokhang: ‘ This is a new script’
MA N I L A — V i c e President Sara Duterte on Thursday refuted claims that she was involved in ‘ Oplan Tokhang’ and the Davao Death Squad (DDS).
She dismissed t he allegations merely as a “new script.”
“Bago ang script na ito (This is a new script),” said Duterte in a statement.
“In the years that I served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao city, my name was never once linked to this issue,” she recalled.
Dute r t e made t he p r o n o u n c e m e n t i n response to a claim made by a confessed DDS gunman – retired police officer Arturo Lascañas.
He said “Oplan Tokhang” was a brainchild of thenMayor Duterte and her brother, former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
DDS i s an all eged vigilante group believed to be behind the spate of killings of suspected drug traffickers and other criminals in Davao city.
Meanwhile, “Oplan Tokhang” — coined from the Visayan word
“t oktok” ( knock) and
“hangyo” ( persuade) —is a strategy which directed law enforcers to seek out suspected drug personalities.
This campaign allegedly resulted in the death of thousands of persons, most of whom were poor alleged drug pushers who law enforcers claimed to have fought back or tried to resist arrest (“nanlaban”).
According to Duterte, her name is being dragged in the issue just so that she can be included as one of the accused in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation.
ICC is probing into the bloody campaign against illegal drugs waged by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“There is suddenly a witness against me when I was elected Vice President. And I am now among the accused in the ICC,” said Duterte.