Duterte wants Commission on Human Rights to look into new slays

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is asking the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to help in the investigation into the new wave of extra-judicial killings in this southern metropolis.

“I am asking the CHR to come in, to come back and help in investigating the cases of summary executions in the city,” Duterte said.

Duterte relayed the verbal request through CHR regional director Alberto Sipaco during a recent meeting of the city peace and order council.

There were at least 15 cases of summary killings in August alone, after a lull of several months.

This month, at least 10 killings have been reported in various parts of the city.

Sipaco said he still has to submit Duterte’s request to the CHR national office even if his office is already looking into the new wave of summary killings.

The mayor made the request even as the CHR is still probing previous summary killings blamed on the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS). The inquiry began last April.

Duterte has repeatedly denied any hand in the DDS’ activities.

Duterte resigned as deputized representative of the National Police Commission over the city police, saying he wanted to give the CHR a free hand in its probe on the vigilante killings.