Davao City mayor washes hands off killings - report

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday volunteered to resign from his post if the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) proves that he is behind the more than 800 unexplained killings in the city since 1998. But Duterte maintained during the CHR's first public inquiry into the issue that he does not support the killings, even though he has vowed to make Davao City a dangerous place for criminals, radio dzBB's Davao affiliate said. The governor also belied the existence of a so-called Davao Death Squad that supposedly executes suspected wrongdoers in the city, saying the killings may have been the result of gang wars. Still, Duterte reiterated that he will remain strong against drug traffickers and terrorists, whom he called threats to national security. He also said he is opposed to the juvenile justice law authored by Senator Francis Pangilinan, saying the measure only shields juvenile delinquents from correction and rehabilitation. Despite this, Duterte said he found the CHR's questioning "fair" so far. CHR chairperson Leila de Lima and other CHR officials went to Davao City on Monday to begin their investigation into the spate of unexplained killings in the area Aside from Duterte, De Lima said earlier that the CHR also expects the attendance and participation of the National Police Commission, prosecutors and members of the judiciary, NGOs, civil society, academe, church, professional, and local media organizations. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV