Matobato claims: Duterte watched as DDS killed well-known people

Alleged hitman Edgar Matobato claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte watched as the Davao Death Squad (DDS) killed well-known and important personalities in Davao City during his term as mayor of the city.

“Kung mga importanteng tao, kung merong pinapatay pumupunta doon si Duterte, Ma'am, doon sa mga quarry,” Matobato said in an interview with host Winnie Monsod in her show “Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie” that aired on Monday night.

“Tinitignan niya ang tao para patayin na,” he added.

Matobato, who claims to be part of the DDS, was presented as witness by then Senate Justice Committee Chairperson Leila De Lima in their investigation into the extrajudicial killings in Davao. 

De Lima, a vocal opponent of Duterte, said she had interviewed Matobato before his appearance in the hearing.

Duterte mocks Matobato

In a speech on September 20, Duterte scoffed at Matobato's allegations at the Senate inquiry on extrajudicial killings.

“So ang puntada ng mga gaga dito it’s almost 1,700, sabi ko napaka-gago naman ninyo. Eh kung talagang killer ako, I am mayor here 23 years. Iyan lang ang ipakita ninyo sa akin?" Duterte said.

"Karami kong tinapon diyan sa Samal Island ng Davao Gulf. Iyan lang makikita mo? I must have been just, I raised the level of… into a sarcasm. Pero ako, papatay… Totoo iyan. Pero hindi naman ganoon karami. 1,700. Mga 1,400 siguro,” he added.

Matobato on Monday drew the ire of senators after he left the Senate premises even before the Committee on Justice and Human Rights finished its hearing on the alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

‘Taken for a ride’

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

Matobato was supposed to confront policemen from Davao City, who Matobato linked to the so-called Davao Death Squad.

"Matobato had to leave so his security won't be compromised..." Gordon read from the note. The Senate inquiry had lasted well into the night.

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

This development drew the ire of Gordon and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

"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.

Vengeance

In the interview, Matobato said he joined the DDS, then known as "Lambada Boys" gang, because he only wanted to avenge his father, who was reportedly killed when members of the New People’s Army invaded their house.

Lambada Boys was founded by Duterte himself in 1988, Matobato claimed.

“Ang ginagawa namin, pumapatay ng mga kriminal, drug pusher,” Matobato said.

The hitman also claimed that he received two to three envelopes containing P3,000 per day for every person he killed.

"Doon ma'am sa Tagum, umpisa ko parang hindi ako nakakatanggap pero ang nasa isip ko mga kriminal naman ito,” he confessed.

Matobato said he had personally killed at least 50 people.

He and the other gang members reportedly were not caught because the police allgedly knew about the killings.

Among those that Matobato named on the show as allegedly being aware of the killings were Major Ronald Lao, Mayor Jacy Jay Francia, SPO3 Arturo Lascañas, Sonny Buenaventura and SPO3 Jim Tan. 

However, Matobato's family had no knowledge of his involvement in any group.

"Na-shock talaga ako, kasi wala talaga kaming alam dati na ganon, ang alam ko buddy-buddy sila ni Mayor Antalan dati. Kapag nasa bahay siya, wala naman siyang sinasabi. Kapag nasa bahay siya, natutulog lang siya. Nakikita ko siyang pagod," Matobato’s daughter said in an interview.

Claims of torture

Matobato claimed that in 2014 he was tortured by the police after refusing to take the blame for the killing of billionaire businessman Richard King.

On the show, Matobato said some 80 DDS members allegedly captured and beat him for one week.

“Binugbog ako ng kwan, ma'am,” Matobato claimed before Monsod. “Tapos binastok ng baril, iyong tinusok man ba ng dulo ng baril.”

Earlier, in his testimony before the justice committee, Matobato said it was incumbent Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte who ordered the killing of King.

Both Paolo and King's family have earlier denied Matobato's claims.

Lascañas also denied these allegations during the resumption of the Senate probe on drug-related killings on Monday.

“Wala pong torture, your honor,” Lascañas said as he was questioned by Sen. Leila de Lima. “At pangalawa, walang Davao Death Squad.”

Meanwhile, Matobato said he would accept Senate’s decision on his case, whatever it may be.

“Kung ano ang hatol sa akin, pilit kong tatanggapin pero hindi ako magpapakulong, dapat magpapabitay ako, Ma’am,” he said.

Matobato left Monday’s Senate probe early, citing security reasons. The Senate hearings on the investigation into extrajudicial killings have been suspended "until further notice." —Erwin Colcol/VVP/NB/JST, GMA News