BI says no record of Lascañas returning to PHL on April 22

Arturo Lascañas, a retired police officer who tagged President Rodrigo Duterte in the killings of suspected criminals in Davao City over the years, did not return to the country over the weekend, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Lascañas was supposed to be back in the Philippines last Saturday from Singapore but BI records showed there was no record of arrival, said Immigration spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang on Monday. 

Mangrobang said Lascañas' return ticket indicated Clark International Airport as port of arrival. 

Lascañas, who left the country on April 8, is facing a probe by the National Bureau of Investigation over his claims about the vigilante group Davao Death Squad, of which he claims to be a team leader.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the scope of the investigation was Lascañas' testimony before a Senate inquiry on March 6 where he claimed that the killings attributed to the DDS were sanctioned by then-Davao City mayor and now President Duterte. 

The former policeman said they were paid by Duterte up to P100,000 depending on their target.

Lascañas had previously denied the existence of the DDS in a Senate inquiry in October but said he was forced to do so out of fear for his security and his family's. 

Lascañas had left the country as he expressed fears of being locked up in jail or killed if he returns home. 

While in Singapore, Lascañas told GMA News he was preparing to testify anew against Duterte, even before the International Criminal Court if and when a case is filed against the President.

Lascañas also said some DDS members have indicated that they also want to testify against Duterte. —KG, GMA News