Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa blames the local Davao media for the term Davao Death Squad
Cena de Guzman-Trinidad October 28, 2024 at 07:31 PM
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the term Davao Death Squad, or DDS, was started by the local media in Davao City.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Subcommittee on the Philippine War on Illegal Drugs hearing, Dela Rosa explained that the term arose when the Davao City media covered a story involving a person who was killed by alleged members of the DDS. He stated that, according to the Davao City media, the letters DDS were written on a placard and placed on top of the victim’s body. “Doon nagsimula yun term na DDS,” he said.
“Death Squad term, siguro dito sa amin nagsimula,” Bato said adding that, “kayo kasi mga media ng Davao, kayo nag-imbento ng DDS.”

However, Dela Rosa reiterated that the media contested his statement, asserting that they simply reported what was written on the placard.
“Hindi kayo ang nag-imbento, pero kayo ang nagpropagate ng term na yan. So, yun lang lumaki na,” Dela Rosa said at the hearing.
“Pag may binaril, sinasabi DDS. Pag may jealousy or dispalko ng pera, binaril, DDS agad ang term,” the senator explained.
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