Senator Antonio Tillanes IV said on Friday that ‘good Samaritans” have provided temporary sanctuary for the Senate witness Edgar Matobato, who confessed to be a former member of the “Davao Death Squad.”
Trillanes made the statement after expressing disappointment over Senate President Koko Pimentel’s decision to deny the request of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights for the custody of Matobato.
“I am very disappointed with the decision of Senate President Pimentel,” Trillanes said in a statement.
“In fact, he doesn’t even have the power to overrule a ruling by a Senate committee,” he added.
Trillanes also hit Pimentel for the “heartless” decision and accused him for “political maneuvering” to cover for political ally President Rodrigo Duterte.
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As for Matobato’s whereabouts, Trillanes revealed that some “good Samaritans” are temporarily protecting him.
“Fortunately, there were good Samaritans in our midst who were willing to provide temporary sanctuary for Mr. Matobato,” he said.
During the hearing on Thursday, Trillanes requested that the witness be placed under legislative immunity.
Senator Leila de Lima, the committee chairperson, added that Matobato should be provided protection since he just accused President Duterte.
In his testimonies, Matobato said that Duterte ordered the mosque bombing in retaliation for the Davao cathedral bombing in 1993. He also claimed that the president’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, ordered the killing of Cebuano businessman Richard King. Paolo has denied the accusations, calling Matobato a “madman.”
Sources: (twitter.com, mb.com.ph, newsinfo.inquirer.net)
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