Davao police to probe Lascañas claims about supposed DDS target

Davao City police on Tuesday said it will probe retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas' claims about the death of alleged drug lord Allan Tancio, who he said was a target of the supposed Davao Death Squad.

During the Senate hearing on Monday, Lascañas said the term DDS came after a raid at Tancio's home where two of his househelpers were killed.

In a report by Victoria Tulad on "24 Oras," Chief Insp. Hamlet Lerios of the Davao City Police Station 1 confirmed the arrest of a certain Allan Tancio during a buy-bust operation in December 11, 2016 but was unsure if it is the same person referred to by Lascañas.

"Wala kaming idea yung target, target na yan kung siya man po yun. Basta ang sa 'min lang may nahuli kami na Allan Tancio," Lerios said.

Davao City PNP chief Sr. Supt. Michael Dubria Dubria said they will also verify the alleged death of the dance instructor of President Rodrigo Duterte's youngest sister, Jocelyn

"Allegedly [namatay], but I have to verify if talagang buhay pa yung tao na yun. But many are saying buhay pa," Dubria said.

Dubria said records show policemen tagged by Lascañas — including SPO4 Bienvenido Laud, SPO4 Desiderio Cloribel, and Maj. Ildefonso Asentista — as members of the DDS have clean records.

On the other hand, Dubria said SPO4 Jim Tan reported to his office on Monday to refute Lascañas. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/JST, GMA News