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Matobato’s allegations should have been verified first before Senate hearing —Lacson


Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday said the allegations of Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed former member of the Davao Death Squad, should have been verified first before he was invited to the Senate hearing conducted Thursday.

"Dapat na-i-verify muna ang mga pahayag ni Matobato bago siya naisalang sa Senate hearing," Lacson said in an interview on Unang Balita.

 

 

Lacson added there were loopholes in Matobato's testimony, which are crucial in establishing his credibility as a witness.

 

 

The senator cited the legal principle of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus (false in one, false in everything) in casting doubt on Matobato's testimony.

"Maaaring mayroon siyang sinasabing isa, dalawa, tatlong katotohanan, pero 'pag hinaluan mo na ng marami pang kasinungalinan, hindi na natin alam kung alin ang totoo, alin ang hindi," Lacson said.

This is why, he said, establishing the scene of the crime is important for instance in Matobato's allegation that billionaire Richard King was killed on orders of Paolo Duterte.

Matobato said King was murdered at a fastfood restaurant, while news reports said he was killed in his office.

"Material 'yon eh...," Lacson said.

Matobato also said during Thursday's hearing that a certain terrorist suspect "Sali Makdum" was kidnapped in 2002 and was brought to the office of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

"PAOCTF 2002, 2001, wala na 'yon. Wala na si Erap, wala na ako. Na-disband na 'yung PAOCTF," Lacson said.

He also said briefing a witness is important and should have been done.

"'Pag may mga testigong ganyan, dapat i-vet mo 'yan... Importante 'yung briefing ng testigo. Baka fact-check pa lang, sumablay na," Lacson said. 

Sen. Leila de Lima, however, on Thursday vouched for Matobato's credibility, saying his failure to recall some specific details does not mean he was lying before the Senate committees looking into the spate of alleged extrajudicial killings. —KG, GMA News

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