CHR to probe new killings in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to investigate the new wave of summary killings here that has alarmed local officials and residents.

CHR chief Leila de Lima herself will lead the probe here on Sept. 25, said Alberto Sipaco, the agency’s Southern Mindanao director.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier had asked the CHR to return to this city and probe the new cases of summary executions that claimed the lives of 15 people in August and 10 others in just the first few days of this month.

Sipaco said the Sept. 25 hearing would be the fourth since last April when the CHR started its investigation into the summary killings blamed on the Davao Death Squad, a vigilante group.

The CHR, however, still has to come out with the results of its first three hearings.

The agency earlier had insinuated that Duterte might have a hand in the spate of summary killings in the city since 2005.

This prompted Duterte to resign last April as deputy representative of the National Police Commission and give up his supervisory power over the local police.

In making the move, Duterte said he wanted to allow an unhampered probe on the killings that have also alarmed international human rights groups.

Duterte said he wishes to have a one-on-one talk with De Lima when she arrives here on Sept. 25 for the new round of CHR hearings.