De Lima names cops as alleged Davao Death Squad members

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila De Lima on Tuesday revealed the names of some Davao police officers who are allegedly members of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), the vigilante group blamed for unexplained killings.

De Lima said the names are similar to those mentioned by Edgar Matobato, confessed hitman who testified before the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights last Thursday. Matobato tagged President Rodrigo Duterte as the one who ordered the killings of suspected criminals and terrorists in Davao City.

“Mr. President may mga binanggit na pong mga opisyal ng kapulisan ang ating witness. Nasaan na po ang mga opisyal na ito ngayon? Masarap pa ba ang kanilang tulog sa kabila ng mga binitawang testimonya ni Edgar Matobato? Kung nakakatulog pa sila, marahil sila ay inosente. Pero papaano kung sila ay hindi inosente?” De Lima said in her privilege speech at the Senate.

“Nagtutugma po ang ilang mga kuwento sa kuwento ng ating witness na si Edgar Matobato. Katunayan noong 2009, may mga pangalan nang mga opisyales ng Davao City Police ang lumabas na mga miyembro ng DDS sa heinous crime section ng DCPO (Davao City Police Office) mga pangalan na binanggit na rin ni Matobato sa kanyang testimonya,” she said.

Below appears the list of names of officials allegedly involved in DDS:

• SPO4 Arthur Lascanas
• Police Chief Inspector Jacy Jay Franca
• Police Chief Inspector Ronald Lao
• SPO3 Jim Tan
• SPO4 Samson "Sonny" Buenaventura
• SPO1 Reynante Medina
• SPO1 Bienvenvenido Furog
• SPO1 Vivencio Jun Junawan
• SPO2 Enrique Jun Delos Reyes Ayao
• SPO3 Jun Laresma
• SPO2 Rizalino "Bobong" Aquino
• SPO3 Donito "Pogi" Ubales
• SPO1 Jun Bisnar
• SPO1 Gaston Aquino
• Police Senior Superindent Isidero "Dick" Florivel/Florobel
• Police Senior Superintendent Rey Capote
• Police Senior Superintendent Tony Rivera
• Police Senior Superintendent Dionisio Abude
• Bienvenido Laud
• Alvin Laud
• Roly Engalia
• Arnold Ochavez

De Lima insisted Matobato has a basis on his testimony unlike Duterte’s drug matrix, she claimed was announced without any evidence. She said the implication is that there is a group of serial killers and mass murderers right within the ranks of the organization which is supposed to protect and serve the people.

“Malakas pong ebidensya sa mga testimonya ni Edgar Matobato. Hindi ito katulad ng drug matrix na nailabas ng Pangulo na walang gustong umamin sa NBI, PNP, o PDEA kung kanino galing sa kanila ang mga impormasyon na laman nito. Kung ang pamantayan ng ebidensya ni Senator Cayetano ay katulad ng drug matrix ni Pangulo na parang dindrawing ng isang dose anyos na bata, di hamak na lampas lampas naman ang testimonya ni Matobato sa pang-dose anyos na standard ng kanyang mahal na Pangulo,” De Lima said.

 “Kung minsan po talaga, ang pinakamahirap gisingin ay ang mga nagpapanggap na tulog,” she added.

The senator urged the alleged DDS members to come out and clear their names.

In her speech, De Lima said the process of vetting witnesses on the DDS case has started since 2009 when she was a Commission on Human Rights chair. She said she conducted the inquiry on the DDS at that time but alleged DDS members failed to testify fearing for their lives.

De Lima conducted a Senate inquiry into the rising number of drug-related killings under the Duterte administration. She was unseated as the Senate panel chair on Monday.