Matobato claims Davao Death Squad ambush attempt on De Lima
A self-confessed assassin claimed on Thursday that the Davao Death Squad attempted to kill then Commission on Human Rights chairman and now Senator Leila de Lima upon the orders of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
During the resumption of the Senate hearing on spate of killings of drug suspects, Edgar Matobato said they were supposed to stage the ambush when De Lima and other people visited the Laud property where the alleged victims of DDS were buried.
“Nagpunta kayo doon, naghukay ka. Pumasok kayo, sa itaas nakaambush posisyon kami,” he said.
He said the ambush did not happen as De Lima did not go further into the property.
“Hindi ka na pumasok sa itaas, doon lang kayo sa entrada pumasok. Hindi na namin kayo naabutan, andoon kami sa taas,” he said.
De Lima confirmed that she went to the Laud property upon receiving information that summary killing victims were buried there.
“Nagconduct kami ng series of public hearings sa Davao since may nag tip sa amin na meorng nililibing dyan sa Laud property na sinasabi nyong Ma-a quarry. Kaya pinuntahan natin yun, hinahanap namin ang mass grave, nakakita kami ng isang nahukay and in the vicinity nakakita kami ng skeletons,” she said.
Asked who ordered the ambush on De Lima, Matobato said it was Duterte.
“Si Mayor Duterte kinausap kami sa opisina,” he said.
However, Matobato said the incident happened in 2003. De Lima's visit to Davao happened in 2009.
De Lima, however, downplayed the discrepancy.
“Ang talagang impression ko sa kanya, na hirap siya sa mga dates...pero it doesn’t mean na nagsisinungaling siya,” De Lima said.
“‘Yung pagpunta ko sa Laud, 2003 daw yun pero actually, 2009 talaga yun,” De Lima added.
“Vital syempre ang date but minsan nga you have to understand that may mga tao na hindi magaling sa pagre-remember ng mga dates kaya I kept also on reminding him na kung hindi kayo sigurado... 'Puwede niyong sabihin, ang pagkakalaala ko ganyan ganyan.'”
For De Lima, however, the details in Matobato's testimonies are enough to make him credible.
“Kasi alam ninyo naman, detalyado din yung mga kwento niya. Ang feeling ko nga baka may ilan-ilan pang insidente na hindi pa niya nasabi.” —JST, GMA News