Pubdate: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times. Contact: http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980 Author: JJD Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Davao+Death+Squad Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte RODY TALKS ABOUT A DIFFERENT DDS MAYOR Rodrigo Duterte finally came up with his definition of the acronym DDS. Speaking in the television program, "Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa" over ABS-CBN, Duterte defined the DDS as Davao Development System, as a philosophy of governance like infrastructure development, and decentralization of functions. Duterte said the DDS is an approach where city government officials are answerable directly to the constituents in carrying out their duties and feedback of abuse of discretion by their workers. "It is a system of running the government, like in the cases of abuses of policemen, it will be the city police director to respond directly to the barangay officials. The same goes true with the implementation of projects by the City Engineer's Office. I no longer have anything to do with it, as long as I don't hear irregularities," he said. Duterte however, did not elaborate when he brought out the "evil" DDS. A shadowy group called the Davao Death Squad (DDS) has been tagged as behind the series of summary executions in the city whose victims were people who were reportedly involved in illegal drugs and other crimes. The group has used motorcycles and handguns in shooting their victims to death. However, police investigators failed to identify members of the DDS even when most of the killings were done in broad daylight or in front of witnesses. - ---