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Duterte: No need to create a DDS; I have the PNP


President Rodrigo Duterte does not see the need for him to create an armed Davao Death Squad (DDS) that targets criminals vigilante-style. 

The President said this on Tuesday in a media interview in Malacañag, just a day after self-proclaimed DDS member and retired police officer Arthur Lascañas during a Senate inquiry reiterated his claim linking the President to the notorious death squad.

"I need not do that. Hindi na kailangan. I did not create an air force, I have an Air Force. I will not create a DDS, may police department ako," he said. 

Lascañas earlier said it was the former Davao City mayor of over two decades who had created the DDS.

Asked who formed the DDS, Duterte said that Davao-based journalist Jun Ledesma can provide the answers.

"You should ask Jun Ledesma. He’s a journalist in Davao. He would give you the history of ‘yung... well...  Ayaw ko ‘yung to sound apologetic. You just ask him. He’s a kolumnista sa Sun Star Davao," he said. 

In his column published on December 28 in 2016, Ledesma said the DDS was conceptualized by the Integrated National Police (INP). He added that Duterte was then a law student when the DDS was formed.

"The DDS was a ghost force conceptualize by INP Gen. Dionisio Tan-gatue Jr. Duterte was still studying law in San Beda when DDS was 'created' by the police general to counter the Sparrows which were the vicious liquidation squads of the New People's Army (NPA) at the time when Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)/NPA was in control of Davao, the city included," he said.

Duterte, meanwhile, continued to evade questions about Lascañas. 

When asked whether he financed Lascañas' kidney treatments, the President said that Davao City has a "Lingap sa Mahirap" program. 

"I don’t know, I don’t know. But we have a 'Lingap sa Mahirap' sa Davao," he said. 

Asked if he thought Lascañas was a credible man who is telling the truth, Duterte responded: "I don’t know. Nandoon man kayo." 

The Senate has already wrapped up its hearing on Lascañas' claims. — MDM/BAP, GMA News

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