Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III played down on Monday a former Davao City cop’s exposé against President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged links to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), saying it was still far from the truth unless backed by evidence.

“Alam mo (You know) you can really say very explosive things pero (but) that should be tested through cross examinations, through background checks, research of the background fact, yung mga years na sinasabi… (on the years he said)” Pimentel told reporters.

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“So huwag tayong masyadong magulat o lumundag sa tuwa just because very explosive ang sinabi, tandaan mo sinabi lang yun. Malayo pa yun sa katotohanan, hindi po pruweba yun because may nagsasalita (Let’s not be surprised or overjoyed because of what he was saying was very explosive, remember that’s it’s only a statement. It’s far from the truth, it’s not considered evidence just because someone is saying such things),” he said.

The Senate leader was reacting to the claim of a confessed leader of DDS, retired police officer Arturo Lascañas, that Duterte ordered them to kill criminals and bomb Muslim mosques in Davao City when he was still its mayor.

Lascañas’ allegation was a turnaround from his earlier testimony before the Senate committee on justice and human rights where he denied the existence of the death squad.

Pimentel said he did not hear the former cop’s press conference but said it would be up to his colleagues if they believed his allegation should warrant another inquiry.

Any senator, he said, could file a resolution to investigate the matter subject to the approval of the plenary and the chairperson of the committee that would be tasked to conduct the probe. RAM/rga

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