The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday said it will conduct a public hearing in Davao City to investigate vigilante-style killings, summary executions and other extralegal killings allegedly being perpetrated by the "Davao Death Squad."

CHR Chairwoman Leila M. de Lima said the rise in summary executions in Davao City is alarming especially since no witnesses are coming forward to help investigators even if the killings occur in broad daylight.

“The killings or salvaging or whatever term one wants to call it cannot remain mere statistics. We must be fully aware of what factors contribute to these incidents, know exactly the scope and magnitude of the killings, among others. Are those killings state-sponsored or simple criminality within police jurisdiction? We need to know the truth," de Lima said in a workshop on extralegal killings and  enforced disappearances.

The CHR chairwoman said she has met with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who expressed willingness to cooperate in an inquiry on the vigilante killings. She said local government and police officials, as well as NGOs, the religious groups, media and the academe, will also be summoned to the public hearing.

Based on police records, there have been more than 29 crime-related since the start of the year. More than half of victims were found hog-tied, tortured and eventually executed.

Local police officials, however, said some of the murders may be business-related.