JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday said he will request the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of self-professed Davao Death Squad leader retired policeman Arturo Lascañas.
"Mr. Lascañas has three warrants of arrest issued against him, he has to be brought to the Court to face the charges against him," said Aguirre.
"Since he is abroad and since there is no indication that he will return, we are constrained to request to the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel his Philippine passport," he added.
Lascañas is facing murder and two counts of attempted murder cases in a Davao City court for his alleged participation in the 2003 killing of radio announcer Jun Pala, a staunch critic of former city mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The complaint was filed by the wife of the victim, Louise Pala.
"If he believes in his innocence then he should welcome his arrest as a chance for him to clear his name and get on with his life. However if he is guilty we cannot tolerate his continuing flight," Aguirre said.
Lascañas left the country on board a flight to Singapore last April 8 fearing that cases will be filed against him after he implicated President Duterte as the founder of the Davao-based vigilante group.
During a Senate inquiry on March 6, Lascañas claimed that he, along with several other policemen, rebel returnees and supporters of Duterte had killed criminals in Davao City upon orders by the then city mayor.
Lascañas said he carried out the murder after Duterte was fed up of the broadcaster's tirades on the radio.
Lascañas said Duterte gave them P1 million as reward money for successfully eliminating Pala. (SunStar Philippines)