Self-confessed killer Arturo “Arthur” Lascañas silently left the country over the weekend, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Sunday.
“As reported by our Port Operations Division Chief Marc Red Mariñas, a passenger by the name Arthur B Lascañas presented himself yesterday 8 April 2017 for immigration departure clearance on or about 1701H,” BI Spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said in a text message.
“Mr Lascañas did not have any Immigration Lookout bulletin order or hold departure order issued against him that could have delayed or prevented his departure. Hence, he was cleared to depart on board Tiger airways flight to Singapore,” she added.
According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lascañas left the Philippines as he received threats that a lawsuit would be filed against him, and that people were looking for him as well.
To recall, Lascañas in October 2016 denied the existence of the DDS and that he was the supposed “team leader” of the squad, as claimed by self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato.
In February, however, he said that the DDS indeed exists and that they were paid by then-Davao City Mayor and now President Rodrigo R. Duterte up to P100,000 depending on their target.
Lascañas recanted his earlier claims following kidney surgery.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Public Order Committee, earlier said that Duterte seemed to be keeping his hands off the Senate inquiry. (source)