Senate hearings on killings 'suspended until further notice'

The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Monday evening suspended its hearings on its investigation into extrajudicial killings "until further notice."

Committee chairman Richard Gordon made the move following the pronouncements of members Alan Peter Cayetano and Manny Pacquiao.

The hearings were scheduled to continue on Tueday, a day after the committee heard testimonies from alleged Davao Death Squad members for more than 12 hours.

Prior to his decision, tempers flared between Gordon and Senator Leila De Lima over information on a kidnapping case filed against self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato.

Gordon, along with Senator Panfilo Lacson, noted that De Lima had failed to disclose in previous hearings that she had information about the kidnapping case filed by the common law wife of alleged terrorist Sali Makdum against Matobato.

"It was incontrovertible that she was in possession of a not that she herself made. That was so devastating, it could have been said while Matobato was lying here that there was a case na fi-nile sa kaniya ng NBI na kidnapping for ransom," said Gordon.

De Lima said she did not do it on purpose. "Napansin ko nga ho 'yun ngayon. Because I have extensive notes. So, I could not be expected na habang nagtetestify si Mr. Matobato noong 5th and 22nd ay maco-correct ko lahat o maisu-supply ko po yung info based on my notes," he said.

Lacson replied: "We did not ask because we did not know, but you knew."

To which she answered: "I only noticed it kani-kanina lang po when I was reviewing my notes.

Later, however, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV read a record of a previous testimony of Matobato disclosing that there was a kidnapping case filed against him.

Trillanes then asked Gordon to apologize to De Lima, which Gordon declined.

"It pains me to be accused of material concealment," said De Lima. "I am walking out, I'm sorry."

Gordon continued to maintain that De Lima had tried to conceal the matter.

Matobato had alleged President Rodrigo Duterte's involvement in the DDS in past hearings. De Lima, a vocal opponent of Duterte, had interviewed Matobato prior to his testimony before the panel earlier this month.

Cayetano and Pacquiao, close allies of Duterte, pushed to end the hearings. In response, Gordon granted the suspension

Matobato leaves

Gordon and Lacson, the chairman and vice-chairman of the panel, respectively, lashed out at Matobato for leaving the premises just as the kidnapping issue came into light.

Gordon was informed by a note from the office of Trillanes that Matobato was no longer available to answer the panel's questions.

"Matobato had to leave so his security won't be compromised..." Gordon read from the note.

"Para bang nu'ng nabuko na, biglang nawala na," Gordon added.

This development drew the ire of Gordon and Lacson.

"We are now lining up all the inconsistencies and perpetrated by Mr. Matobato," Gordon said.

"I would like to believe, although I hate to admit this, that we were all taken of a ride by Mr. Matobato. And it's so frustrating that after all, we're not smarter than the first grader," Lacson added, in reference to Matobato's first grade education.

De Lima protested Gordon and Lacson's conclusion as "unfair."

Trillanes, meanwhile, defended Matobato's departure, saying it was his call to have the witness leave the premises, citing security concerns.  —JST, GMA News