(Eagle News) – A senior police officer earlier tagged by Senate witness Edgar Matobato as being allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings in Davao City, branded Matobato as a liar and that “politics” could be behind him.
Senior Police Office 3 Arturo Lascanas angrily denied at the Senate all allegations made by Lascanas against him, including his alleged involvement in the so-called Davao Death Squad.
He denied that there was a Davao Death Squad, and that he had been involved in the killings of suspected international terrorist Sali Makdum, billionaire businessman Richard King, or that he was involved in the bombing of a mosque, among the many allegations of Matobato.
He also denied that he was close to Davao City mayor, now President Rodrigo Duterte, or that he has “strong” connections with him.
He recounted two separate incidents in 2011 and 2014 where both of his brothers, who had been involved in illegal drugs, were killed by members of the Davao City Police Office because of their drug links.
“Kung malakas ako kay Mayor, sana natulungan ko sila,” Lascanas said.
He also cited the incident of his eldest child’s application to the Davao City government which was not accepted. To make matters worse, his child was also reportedly “insulted.”
During the Senate’s continuation of its inquiry into extrajudicial killings, Lascanas — when pressed what could be behind the alleged lies of Matobato – pointed to politics.
“I’m sorry, baka mali ako, mahirap po, personal ko na lang po ito… Sa personal ko lang po, baka pulitika. Gusto niya siguro siraan yung President, si Duterte,” SPO3 Arturo Lascañas said.
The police officer, due to retire this December, was among the 16 Davao-based policemen who appeared at the Senate during the continuation of hearings on drug-related extrajudicial killings.
He also told the Senate pointblank that Matobato was “sinungaling” or a liar.
He admitted that he was close to Matobato, and that he owes him a debt of gratitude for referring to him some parcels of land that they were able to sell, but he said that he got angry with him when the latter duped people in the land deals.
“Dalawang beses ko siyang namura,” he said.
Asked at the Senate, why he, of all people in Davao City, would be used by Matobato in his story that would destroy the President, Lascanas said: “Yun din ang pinagtataka ko po.”
He said this was why he was so angry at all of Matobato’s allegations against him, which were all lies, he claimed.
“Masamang masama ang dating sa akin. Talagang pambabastos sa katuhan ko ito,” he said.
Lascanas also denied receiving any order from Duterte, saying that the only times he saw Duterte was when the police force was to report on major accomplishments.
Lascanas was a member of the Davao City Police Office’s heinous crimes division from the time it was set up in 2001 until it was dissolved.