Duterte: Not ‘Davao Death Squad’ but ‘Davao Development System’

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (PNA photo)

MANILA — Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte backtracked his earlier admission of his involvement in the Davao Death Squad.

According to Duterte, he was referring to ‘Davao Development System (DDS) and not ‘Davao Death Squad.’

In an interview with a local television show, “Gikan Para sa Masa” Duterte was asked about his involvement in the extra judicial killings in Davao City.

“Ako, ako daw death squad? True, that’s true,” he said.

But just recently, Duterte said that he was not referring to Davao Death Squad when he made the statement.

”I always used the word. Walang DDS dyan. That is Davao Development System. That is my guiding principle,” he said.

”Walang akong sinabing ‘pumatay kayo’. I never did it. I do not talk to the police even. I only talk to the police at nandyan ang media. And when I give money nakikita niyo. You know I give P15,000 sa mga station commanders kasi kulang talaga ang budget ng police. That’s for their operation and intelligence,” he said.

(I never asked them to kill. I never did it. I do not talk to the police even. I only talk to the police with the media around. And when I give money, you are witnesses. You know I give P15,000 to station commanders because their budget is really scarce. That’s for their operation and intelligence.)

”[I also give] P50,000 to the city director. I said spend it just to zero in on the drugs.”

Duterte also dared Secretary Leila De Lima to file a case against him.

” You file the case and make yourself as the complainant and I will place you in the witness stand… I will also answer everything, but i want you there to answer about your personal and professional dealings,” he said.