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Senator JV Ejercito today questioned the motives of SPO3 Arthur Lascañas in recanting his testimony in the Senate after four of his business proposals were turned down by known allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
 
Ejercito probed Lascañas of his attempts to put up several businesses such as getting a small time lottery (STL) franchise, establishing a customs brokerage, application to operate a van terminal and operations in Davao City, and in supplying a quarry for the proposed 53 kilometer Coastal Road in Toril-Bunawan – all of which Lascañas confirmed were rejected by Duterte men after the October 3, 2016 Senate hearing.
“It appears that our witness here ay naka-‘strike 4’ after his retirement. Wala sa apat na nilakad niyang mga pabor para sa business interests ng Davao Group tulad ng STL franchise, van terminal, quarry, at customs brokerage ay napagbigyan. Kaya siguro nagbago siya ng statement at sinisiraan na niya ngayon si President Duterte,” Ejercito today said.
 
He added, “After retirement, Lascañas may have had a lot of expectations that led to his frustration when he was unable to get any of the four business ventures when Duterte assumed power.”
Lascañas initially denied the existence and operations of the Davao Death Squad during the October 2016 Joint Hearing on Extra-Judicial Killings of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
 
Lascañas retired on December 16, 2016. He recanted his claims on DDS four months after the Senate hearing on February 20, 2017.
 
Ejercito also scored Lascañas for turning back only now from Duterte after retirement and not immediately after his ‘spiritual renewal’ in September 2015.
 
He also ensured that Lascañas and his FLAG lawyers, who were involved in the 2001 impeachment efforts against former President Joseph Estrada, are not being used for any destabilization plan.
“This is just to put it on record. Let us not allow anyone to use the Senate for any destabilization effort,” he said.