Davao court orders Lascañas’ arrest

DAVAO CITY, Philippines —  A trial court in this city has ordered the arrest of former police officer Arturo Lascañas in connection with criminal charges filed against him including online libel, murder and attempted murder.

The Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 issued several arrest warrants against Lascañas, the principal witness in cases of extrajudicial killings filed against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.

Duterte is currently detained in The Hague for supposed crimes against humanity involving the bloody campaign against illegal drugs during his administration.

Lascañas had appeared in Senate hearings wherein he claimed he was a member of the so-called Davao Death Squad believed to be behind the extrajudicial killings.

In the most recent case, the court ordered the arrest of Lascañas for online libel.

Based on a warrant dated June 9, the court recommended bail of P48,000 for Lascañas’ temporary liberty.

No bail was recommended in an alias warrant for murder dated Oct. 16, 2020.

For charges of two counts of attempted murder, the court recommended bail of P120,000 each.

The court directed law enforcers to implement the warrants within 10 days upon receipt, and to explain in case  of failure to serve the warrants.

Complainants in the murder and attempted murder cases included officials of the Davao City police, Bureau of Immigration and National Bureau of Investigation.

Lascañas has been facing multiple criminal cases for years. He previously fled the country and testified before international law enforcement bodies against Duterte.

The Philippine National Police and the Interpol have been urged to move swiftly and arrest Lascañas, who is said to be freely going in and out of the country.