Watch: President Duterte, itinanggi na siya ang nagtatag ng Davao Death Squad

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday denied the allegations that it was he who organized the alleged vigilante group that killed criminals in Davao City when he was still mayor.

The President explained that the Davao Death Squad existed as early as during the Martial Law years to combat assassins of the New People's Army (NPA).

"No apologies pero you should learn more about DDS. It was organized to combat the SPARU noon sa Davao. You can ask the people, the old guys there. It was then known as the DDS sa Martial Law," Duterte said in his speech.

"Rather than apologizing for—I will answer for my misdeeds and I can rot in prison for the right reasons," he added.

Watch the video below: