Davao City barangay officials to appear in CHR probe

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – At least 27 barangay officials have been summoned by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) today in the continuing investigation into the summary executions of the so-called Davao Death Squad in this city.

Alberto Sipaco, CHR Southern Mindanao (Region 11) director, said the summoned barangay officials represented the localities in the city’s poblacion area where most of the killings took place.

“Those invited to attend were all from the poblacion and we have excluded those from the hinterlands and outskirts of the city,” he said.

Sipaco said he sent out the orders for the barangay chairmen to appear before the CHR in today’s probe.

City legal officer Melchor Quitain and city police chief Senior Superintendent Ramon Apolinario were also summoned to appear.

The CHR led by chairperson Leila de Lima earlier launched an investigation into the reported killings by the vigilante group, on allegations that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had personal knowledge of the incidents.

Duterte, whose iron-fisted way of dealing with criminals has provoked controversy, has repeatedly denied any hand in the summary killings.

He even offered to resign if there is any evidence linking him to the vigilante group tagged in the killings of more than 800 people, many of them said to have criminal records.

The investigation came following reports made by human rights groups detailing the number of extrajudicial killings in the city.