The Commission on Human Rights will look into the series of unexplained killings attributed to the “Davao Death Squad” and unmask those behind the vigilante group.
CHR Chairman Leila de Lima told a news forum in Quezon City that she and other agency officials will fly to Davao City on March 30 in an effort to gather witnesses against the group said to be responsible for a series of killings in the city.
“We will investigate for two days from March 30 and on the third day we will also investigate the abduction, rape and murder of Rebelyn Pitao,” De Lima told the weekly Usapang Daungan Forum at Danarra Hotel.
She said it was alarming to note that some people in Davao have found the killings acceptable. “We cannot accept reasons that there were no witnesses and we will ask the local police and military to explain if they have acted on these killings.”
“I don’t think that should be tolerated. It is definitely wrong… even petty rugby sniffers were reportedly being killed and this happens for the past 10 years. We will find out if the DDS’ actions were state sponsored, at least locally, because they cannot tell us that those were isolated cases. There must be a system behind the killings,” De Lima pointed out.
De Lima said she had discussed the matter with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who assured her of the city government’s full cooperation.
“We spoke a month ago and I told him about my plan. He immediately said yes, he will cooperate for as long as the investigations are made public and transparent. I hope he will sincerely cooperate,” De Lima further said.
“We hope to get as many witnesses and maybe we could convince active or former members of DDS to come out in the open and cooperate with the CHR. It is hard to believe that no one is behind the activities of this group, if indeed it exists,” the CHR chief added.
Armed Forces Civil Relations Service chief Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan said Armed Forces Chief Alexander Yano had instructed them to fully cooperate with the CHR.– Joel M. Sy Egco, Manila Standard Today
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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