Duterte ordered bombing of mosques, killing of suspects in church bombing —witness

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the bombing of mosques in retaliation for the bombing of the Davao Cathedral in 1993, a witness at the Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings said Thursday.

“Noong 1993, 'yung Cathedral ng Davao binomba kaya umorder si Mayor Duterte na masakerin ang mga mosque ng Muslim. Ako ang tumapon ng granada sa bangkerohan,” Edgar Matobato said during the resumption of the Senate hearing.

Fortunately, no one died during the bombing.

“Walang tao, walang simba kaya walang naging casualty,” he said.

He said he was sure it was Duterte who ordered the bombing as he was close to the city officials then.

“Si Mayor Duterte, Ma’am. Nandon lang ako sa opisina kasama ko ang mga opisyal. Parang gumaganti dahil binomba ang Cathedral,” he added.

He added they were also ordered to get the suspects in the bombing of the Davao Cathedral.

“Pagkatapos bumomba sa simbahan ng mga Muslim, makalipas ang ilang araw nag-utos siya na ang mga suspek na Muslim hulihin niyo at patayin niyo. Inabangan namin ang mga Muslim at pinagpapatay namin. Inilibing namin sa quarry na pag-aari ni Ding Laud,”  he said.

Andanar: Duterte not capable of doing these

But Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Duterte is not capable of doing the acts as accused by Matobato.

"I don't think he is capable of giving those orders," he said in a briefing in Malacañang.

Andanar was referring to Matobato's statement that Duterte ordered the killing of Muslims and bombing of a mosque.

Lambada Boys, Davao Death Squad

Matobato said he was initially part of the seven-man Lambada Boys liquidation team which was formed in 1988.

He said he was a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) who was taken to be part of the group.

“Noong 1993 dumami na kami. Kasama na ang rebel returnees pati pulis,” he said.

He said the group was later known as the Davao Death Squad.

Other allegations

Matobato also made the following allegations during the hearing:

• Four bodyguards of former House Speaker Prospero Nograles were kidnapped and killed in 2010 upon Duterte's orders;
• Davao journalist Jun Pala was murdered in 2003 on orders of Duterte; and
• Billionaire businessman Richard King was killed in 2014 as ordered by Paolo Duterte.

Paolo Duterte on Thursday branded as "mere hearsay" the accusations hurled against him. —With a report from Trisha Macas/KG/RSJ, GMA News