Witness: Duterte ordered Davao journalist Jun Pala murdered

Confessed hired assassin Edgar Matobato on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the murder of Davao-based radio broadcaster Jun Pala, who was killed in 2003.

“Pinapatay ni Mayor Duterte si Jun Pala noong 2003,” Matobato said at the resumption of the Senate hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings amid the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Asked by Senator Leila de Lima if he was certain of his accusation, Matobato said: “Opo. Kasi parang binabakbakan sa radyo araw-araw.”

According to Matobato, a certain “SPO2 Jun Ayao” killed Pala while Duterte was waiting for the confirmation if the journalist had been killed.

“Naghihintay na lang kami sa tawag kung namatay na si Pala sa kainan...Doon palagi kumakain si Mayor Duterte,” he narrated.

Matobato said Pala’s death was blamed on the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Paano papasok ang NPA sa loob ng Davao sa dami ng pulis? Kontrolado ang NPA sa Davao kasi kaibigan ni Mayor Duterte,” he said.

In May, Duterte said most journalists who are murdered are corrupt, having accepted bribes from personalities but proceeded to criticize them in the media.

Duterte then cited the case of Pala, saying he knows who was behind the killing.

"Ang example natin dito, kung tagarito ka man, si Pala. I don't want to demean his memory but he was a rotten son of a bitch. He deserved it. Eh ganu'n eh," said Duterte.

"Of course I know who killed him. Kasi binastos niya 'yung tao eh," Duterte said. 

Pala, a broadcaster of Davao-based radio dxGO, was killed on September 6, 2003. —KG, GMA News