President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to "get to the bottom" of the killings in Davao allegedly perpetrated by the so-called Davao death squads.

The president also urged citizens who have information on the death squads to come forward and testify against the suspects.

Malacañang maintained the government does not condone killings for any reason.

An international human rights group has estimated that vigilante squads have killed over 800 suspected drug dealers and petty criminals in Davao City between 1998 and 2009.

Duterte belies reports

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was grilled by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the public inquiry held last March 30 on the summary killings in Davao City.

Duterte categorically denied that the city government is sponsoring or supporting vigilante groups that have been accused of killing suspected criminals, including some minors.

Duterte asserted he is willing to resign and go to prison if these accusations are proven true.

He added that he himself is against vigilantism.

The CHR is alarmed over the unabated killings in Davao that happen even in broad daylight.

The killings are allegedly being perpetrated by the so-called Davao Death Squad.

CHR chair Leila de Lima went to Davao to investigate hundreds of killings allegedly committed by the death squads

De Lima said the CHR wants to determine if such a group exists, and if local officials can be held liable for failing to address the killings.

The CHR regional office has listed more than 300 summary killings from 2005 to January 2009.

Malacañang said it will cooperate with the CHR probe. -- with reports from ANC and PAUL PALACIO, ABS-CBN Davao