Andanar Claims $1,000 Offered To Reporters That Covered Lascañas Presser

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar made the bold accusation after Lascañas, who once denied in a Senate inquiry the existence of a Duterte-backed vigilante group, said on Monday that the Davao Death Squad (DDS) did exist.

Lascañas corroborated confessed hitman Edgar Matobato’s allegations that members of the DDS were paid as much as P100,000 for every hit.

“Meron na rin tayong natanggap na reports na as much as $1000 ang ipinamigay dito sa presscon na ito. Hindi ko na lang papangalan ang aking source pero meron daw pinagbibigyan ng ganitong kalaking halagang pera para ma-cover ito,” Andanar said in a television interview.

Andanar has said that Lascañas’ “character assassination” was part of a prolonged political drama meant to topple the administration.

Lascañas during the press conference at the Senate was joined by lawyers of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) led by national chairman Jose Manuel Diokno and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Lascañas was previously tagged by confessed hitman Edgar Matobato as the DDS leader. He previously denied the allegations.

But on Monday, he backed Matobato’s claims and said that Duterte once paid them up to P100,000 per target.

However, Andanar could not verify if the offer was accepted by the reporters.

“Pinagbibigyan daw ang mga reporter doon kung saan nangyari. May nag-offer daw pero hindi ko lang alam kung tinanggap. Pero merong nagsumbong sa akin,” Andanar said.

“Iyon ang umiikot na storya pero hindi naman sinabi na tinanggap na merong mga offer na ganoong kalaking pera ang oposisyon para lamang pabagsakin ang administrasyong ito, para ipakalat ang storya ni SPO3 [Lascañas],” he added.

Andanar refused to elaborate on the opposition he was referring to.

“I cannot categorically say na galing kay Senator Trillanes,” Andanar said.

In a statement, Trillanes said Andanar’s statement was the “height of irresponsibility” for the Cabinet official.

“First of all, I categorically deny na nagbigay ako o kung sino man ng $1k sa mga reporters na nagcover ng presscon kanina,” Trillanes said.

“Hindi namin gawain yan at mataas ang respeto namin sa Senate Media para gawin yan. That’s the height of irresponsibility for a cabinet official to say that publicly,” the senator added.

Trillanes said Andanar’s claim is meant to “divert” the issue from Lascañas’ confessions.Source: GMA