President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Albert Alcain, Malacanang Photo

'11 Chinese wrapped in packing tape'

MANILA - Eleven Chinese nationals who were caught in a drug raid in Davao were ordered killed by then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas claimed on Monday.

Duterte has denied ordering the killing of specific persons, saying he only authorized lethal force if law breakers put up violent resistance.

In his testimony before the Senate, Lascañas said SPO4 Sonny Bueneventura, a former security aide of then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, called him on a December 31 evening to inform him that a raid by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) teams from Metro Manila and the Davao region resulted in the seizure of more than 100 kilograms of shabu.

Six Chinese nationals were killed in the raid while 11 others were still alive, he said.

"Ang instruction ni Sonny, standby dahil maliban sa anim na napatay na Chinese, meron pang 11 na buhay. Hindi pwedeng isama doon sa laboratory dahil hindi na kapani-paniwala," he said.

(Sonny's instructions were to standby because apart from the six Chinese nationals killed, there are 11 more who are alive. They cannot be brought to the laboratory because that wouldn't be believable.)

Lascañas recalled that Buenaventura instructed him and a "Jim Tan" to standby at around 10:00 P.M., and were told that the Chinese nationals were to be brought to them aboard a van.

"Dumating si SPO4 Val Carillo, isang element ng PDEA-11. Dito pinakita niya sa akin ang 11 Chinese nationals na naka-packing tape lahat, buhay," he said.

(SPO4 Val Carillo, an element of PDEA-11, arrived. Here, he showed us 11 Chinese nationals who were all in packing tape, alive.)

The 11 Chinese nationals were composed of seven males, and four females, according to Lascañas.

He said Carillo volunteered to accompany them to where the Chinese nationals were to be "disposed of" but after speaking with Buenaventura, he agreed to let Lascañas' team handle it.

They then proceeded to bring the Chinese nationals to the "quarry" per the instructions of Buenaventura.

There, he asked who among the Chinese nationals can speak English or Tagalog, and an "Allan Sy" volunteered.

"Pinatanggalan ko siya ng packing tape sa kaniyang paa. Nag-usap kami sa isang shed doon sa quarry. Nagtanong siya sa akin kung saan sila, sino kami. Ang sinabi ko, nandito tayo sa bundok, mga NPA kami," he said.

(I had the packing tape binding his feet removed. We spoke by the shed in the quarry. He asked where we are and who we are. I told him we are in the mountains and we are NPA rebels.)

"Isa pang tanong niya, paano ang pagkain nila, ang provision? Kung pwede, magtawag siya sa kaniyang wife at ipakuha niya sa amin ang 3-million para gamitin na pang-gastos," he said.

(He also asked how their food will be provided. He said if we'll allow, he will call his wife and have us receive 3-million for their expenses.)

Lascañas said he called Buenaventura regarding Sy's request, but Buenaventura told him he would call him when he was available.

When he brought Sy back with his companions, Lascañas recalled a "money deal" Sy tried to negotiate with him.

"Gusto niya ma-release ang 2 Chinese at isang lalaki, kung hindi ako nagkamali. Ang sabi niya, ito ay mga chemists," he said.

(He wanted us to release two Chinese and another man, if I'm not mistaken. He said these are chemists.)

"Nag-offer siya ng 200-million at tinanong ko sa kaniya paano namin yun makuha. Ang sabi sa akin ni Allan Sy, i-course niya sa isang negosyanteng kaibigan niya sa Maynila," he said.

(He offered P200 million and I asked him how we could get that. Allan Sy said he will course it through a businessperson from Manila who is his friend.)

"Kung papayag ako, in a one-week period, ipa-deliver niya ang 50-million. The second week, another 50-million, and then during the third week, i-release ko na yung isang babae at sa fourth week, yung isa naman. Then pag-usapan namin yung naiwan," he added.

(If I will agree, in one week's time, P50 million will be delivered. The second week, another 50-million, and then during the third week, I'll release one woman and on the fourth week, the other. And then we'll talk about those who will be left behind.)

Lascañas then called Buenaventura about Sy's proposal but after a while, it was Duterte who spoke to him.

"Ang sabi ni Mayor, ‘Wag kang kumagat sa patibong nila. May pera tayo. Ubusin niyo na yan and then after that, tawagan mo si Sonny.’ Ang sagot ko, ‘yes, sir'," he said.

(Mayor said, 'Don't fall for their trick. We have money. Just finish them all and then call up Sonny.' My response was, 'Yes, sir.')

Thereafter, Lascañas said they brought the Chinese nationals to their "common grave." He said he shot nine of them, starting with Sy, and then left the two others to be shot by Tan.

He said they brought back the van at around 4:00 A.M.

"Tinawagan ko si SPO4 Val Carillo, pwede nang i-pick up ang van, malinis na. Tinawagan ko din si Sonny, tapos na. Uuwi kami kasi New Year at magpahinga kami," he said.

After several days, he said, he met again with Buenaventura, who gave him P500,000, and then he, Buenabentura, and Tan got their share of the money.