Edgar Matobato files complaint vs. Duterte at Ombudsman

Self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato on Friday formally filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against President Rodrigo Duterte and 27 others over their alleged involvement in the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Matobato, who has claimed to be a former member of DDS, charged the President with murder, kidnapping, violation of Republic Act No. 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act, and violations of R.A. No. 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

Also charged along with Duterte were his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa and 25 others.

The charges were filed by Matobato's lawyer, Jude Sabio, who said his client chose not to go to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales demurred on giving a comment regarding Matobato’s complaint, saying she has yet to read it.

“I will see. I will look at the case,” she told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Pasig City. 

‘More than 1,000 executed’

In his affidavit, Matobato claimed DDS executed more than 1,000 suspected criminals and other individuals from the time it was established in 1988 until the time he left the group in 2013.

He said Duterte established DDS when he was Davao City mayor. The group, which was composed of some local policemen and civilians, was initially named “Lambada Boys.”

As mayor, Duterte was the highest official in the DDS, with almost all operations "cleared" by him, Matobato said.

"Siya (Duterte) ang nag-uutos sa pagpatay," the self-confessed hitman said.

Also charged w/ murder, kidnapping are Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, 20 police offices & 5 civilians. pic.twitter.com/Ly7SxSrcTo

— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) December 9, 2016

Matobato tagged SPO4 Arthur Lascanas as "second-in-command" to Duterte within the DDS, while SPO4 Sanson “Sonny” Buenaventura was supposedly known as the “little mayor.”

The self-confessed hitman said Lascanas gave the order on who Duterte wanted killed while Buenaventura was responsible for paying off the people involved in the killings.

“Ang pagkakaalam ko, hindi puwedeng pumatay ng hindi inutos o 'di na-clear kay Mayor,” Matobato said.

The self-confessed hitman claimed he was Lascanas’ right hand man. In 2013, he said the police officer even gave him a watch with the receipt bearing the name of Duterte’s supposed second-in-command.

From an initial seven members, Matobato said DDS grew over the years to include rebel returnees from the New People’s Army. He said the new members were in charge of “small-time” jobs such as killing barangay toughies, gang members and so-called “rugby boys.”

“Ang mga rebel returnees ang mga naka-motor, mga riding-in-tandem. Para lang silang pumapatay ng manok. Basta may clearance, walang nahuhuli at nakakasuhan at hindi nakikialam ang pulis,” Matobato said.

The self-confessed hitman said the DDS’ victims were usually strangled inside a car where they were brought to after being abducted. The dead bodies have to be chopped up, he said, in accordance with Lascanas’ orders.

“Istrikto si Lascanas na dapat-i-chop-chop ang mga katawan. Hindi pwedeng binaril at sinakal lamang,” he said.

Matobato claimed there were times when Duterte was personally involved in the killings.

“Kapag kilala ang biktima o big-time, pumupunta si Duterte sa Laud Quarry para siguraduhin na 'yun nga ang target at para manood sa pagchop-chop ng bangkay,” he said.

The chopped-up dead bodies, Matobato said, were either buried or thrown into the sea. He pointed to Laud Firing Range in Barangay Ma-a, Davao City as the regular dumping ground for DDS’ victims.

Not just in Davao

The self-confessed hitman said the DDS’ operations were not limited to Davao City, with the group traveling as far as General Santos City, Butuan, Tagum, Panabo, Davao del Sur, Digos, Maitum and Sarangani to kill. A member was also assigned in Manila sometime in 2002 or 2003, he added.

By Matobato’s recollection, DDS killed an average of three members daily, not including those who were shot on the streets.

In his affidavit, the self-confessed hitman also detailed the killings of members of former Speaker Prospero Nograles’ security detail, a dance instructor who was reportedly the boyfriend of Duterte’s sister Jocelyn, and billionaire businessman Richard King, whose death was supposedly ordered by Paolo Duterte.

The self-confessed hitman said he was compensated for his work in the DDS even while he was employed as a contractual worker of the Civil Security Unit with a monthly salary of P6,000.

“Kapag may perang nakuha sa biktima, pinaghahatian na iyon ng opisyales. Pinagkatiwalaan ako kasi matino ako sa pera… Meron din 'yung reward ni Mayor. Pinaghahatian din 'yan ng mga opisyal tapos pinapakain na lang kami,” he said.

At present, Matobato said all of the policemen who were part of the DDS are already rich. He claimed that aside from killing people, the hitmen also earned from smuggling, an illicit trade reportedly controlled by Vice Mayor Duterte.

Matobato said he was tortured on Lascanas’ orders when he tried to leave DDS in 2013. He said he managed to get out alive after his wife made a scene when DDS members went to his house.

“Tinawag ng mga kamag-anak ko ang pinsan ko na retiradong Colonel. Pinuntahan ako sa bahay para tulungan akong tumakas. Nagtataka siya kung bakit gusto akong patayin ng mga dati kong kasamahan,” he said.

With his testimony, Matobato is hopeful justice be given to the victims of the DDS.

“Gusto kong mabigyan ng hustisya, dahil marami kaming pinatay. May konsensiya pa ako. Hanggang ngayon marami pang pinapatay,” he said. —KG, GMA News