MANILA – The hunt is on for retired police officer Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the so-called Davao Death Squad and key accuser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, after a Davao City court issued multiple alias warrants of arrest against him for online libel, murder, and attempted murder.
The Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 10 ordered law enforcement to apprehend Lascañas for online libel under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, with bail set at ₱48,000, subject to court approval.
No bail was recommended for the murder case, covered by a warrant issued on Oct. 16, 2020, while two other warrants for attempted murder each carry bail of ₱120,000. All warrants instruct authorities to serve them within 10 days of receipt and to provide a written explanation for any delay.
The listed service addresses are Bariquit Compound, Sitio San Andres, Barangay Indangan, and Roseville Subdivision in Buhangin, Davao City.
Complainants in the cases include the Philippine National Police in Davao City, the Bureau of Immigration, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Lascañas has faced multiple criminal charges over the years and has testified before international bodies linking Duterte to alleged extrajudicial killings.
Human rights advocates and critics of law enforcement have urged the PNP and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to act swiftly, citing reports that Lascañas has traveled abroad despite pending warrants. They warned that inaction could erode public trust in the justice system and embolden fugitives./PN
