Duterte admits Davao Death Squad involvement, warns to kill more criminals once elected as president

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Photo courtesy of Shem Longakit and Davao City by Battad

MANILA – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte admitted reports linking  him to the Davao Death Squad which killed criminals in the city.

“Ako, ako daw death squad? True, that’s true,” he said in an interview with Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa.

(I was involved in the death squad?

True. That’s true.)

This is following calls for an investigation into the Davao Death Squad killings.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch has also called on the government to stop tolerating public officials involved in extrajudicial killings.

Unfazed by these reports, Duterte remained unapologetic of his actions and dared the said human rights group to file a case against him.

“Gusto ko sila pumunta dito. (I want them to come here.)There’s no need for you to go to the Ombudsman. There is no requirement that you go to the human rights. File directly in court. Then I’ll place you under oath. Just execute an affidavit. Then I’ll call you when it’s my time for cross-examination. And I will show to the world how stupid you are,” he added.

Duterte even added that his city has become one of the world’s safest city because of killing all criminals.

“Alam po pag ako ang presidente, I will warn you I do not covet the position. Pag naging presidente ako, magtago na kayo. Yung 1,000 n ayan it would reach 50,000.

I will kill all you [expletive] breaking the life of the Filipino miserable. Papatayin ko talaga kayo.”

[You know, when I become the president, I will warn you I do not covet the position. When I become the president, you should be hiding. That 1,000 record (of killed criminals) would reach 50,000. I will kill all you [expletive] breaking the life of the Filipino miserable. I will really kill of you.]

“I do not want to be president. I do not want to kill people so do not elect me as president.”