WITNESS. Edgar Matobato takes his oat before testifying at the Senate inquiry into the spate of extrajudicial killings and summary executions under the Duterte administration on September 16, 2016. Photo by LeAnneJazul/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – A supposed member of the so-called "Davao Death Squad" on Thursday, September 15, claimed Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, ordered the killing of Cebuano businessman Richard King in 2014.
Edgar Matobato, who claims he was a member of the infamous death squad, said they were ordered by Paolo, then Davao vice mayor, to kill King because they were "rivals" over a woman.
Matobato was the key witness on Thursday, when the Senate resumed its probe into the rise of killings associated with the current administration's "war on drugs." Matobato earlier testified that they – supposed members of the death squad – executed criminals under the orders of President Duterte himself, who was mayor of Davao for over two decades.
King, owner of the Crown Regency Group of Hotels, was gunned down in Davao City on June 12, 2014.
Matobato alleged the two of the men who conducted the hit on King – rebel returnees who were part of the death squad – were "double crossed." They were reportedly paid P500,000 for the job but were later killed.
Matobato said he was blamed as the killer of King because at that time, he already wanted to leave the team he referred to as the "heinous crime" unit of the Davao City government. He said "Colonel Felonia" was pinned down as the mastermind of the killing.
Matobato said he was blamed as the killer of King because at that time, he already wanted to leave the team he referred to as the "heinous crime" unit of the Davao City government. He said "Colonel Felonia" was pinned down as the mastermind of the killing.
Superintendent Leonardo Felonia was detained in connection with the King case.
Matobato said he was tortured for a week but was later released. He then hid in Cebu, Leyte, and Samar. In August 2014, he said he "surrendered" to the Commission on Human Rights but was told that the CHR would not be able to protect him. A month later, he went to the Department of Justice and was placed under the witness protection program.
Matobato left the program before Duterte was proclaimed president, prompting the DOJ to halt its probe into the Davao Death Squad as he was the state's sole witness. He remained unnamed until he appeared at the Senate probe. (READ: DOJ halts probe into Davao Death Squad)
Matobato said he decided to surface following Duterte's victory, as he feared for his life.
Matobato also alleged that the Davao Vice Mayor had a few other people killed because he had a heated argument with them. One incident reportedly involved an altercation with a man who overtook the Vice Mayor at a gasoline station.
The hearing is ongoing as of posting.
The hearing is ongoing as of posting.
SOURCE: RAPPLER
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