Duterte Says He Will Still Kill Criminals, Despite Call for Inquiry
The president spoke just weeks after a retired police officer said he would be willing to testify in domestic and international courts
that Mr. Duterte had ordered him and other hired hit men to routinely carry out killings when Mr. Duterte was mayor of Davao.
" Mr. Sabio said in an interview. that Both Matobato and Lascanas are vital witnesses to prove
that the Davao death squad was used by Duterte as a template, or as a strategy or policy, for crime control through extrajudicial killings since he became president,
Two men, Arthur Lascanas, a former Davao City police officer, and Edgar Matobato, a self-described hit man, have said they were members of a "death squad" led by Mr. Duterte
that targeted petty criminals, drug traffickers and political opponents.
" Mr. Banlaoi said. that There is still a general support on the war against drugs,
but the opposition is raising the issue of extrajudicial killings as a pretext to challenge the reign of Duterte,
By FELIPE VILLAMORMARCH 14, 2017
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines defiantly rebuked human rights groups
and international organizations on Tuesday, pledging to continue his deadly antidrug crackdown despite mounting calls for a criminal investigation into his actions.
"But now, I have included the military because drugs have become a threat to national security."
Last week, Mr. Duterte signed an executive order that revived his antidrug crackdown.