Matobato claims he joined 'death squad' to seek justice for slain father

MANILA, Philippines – Confessed hitman Edgar Matobato on Thursday told the Senate Justice committee that he joined the so-called Davao Death Squad to seek justice for his slain father.

During his testimony, Matobato became teary-eyed as he was narrating why he joined the vigilante group that he said President Rodrigo Duterte founded in 1988 while Davao City mayor. He said his father was beheaded by members of the New People’s Army in 1977 and he was seeking justice for him.

“Noong nakita ko mismo, sir, yung tatay ko pinugutan ulo ng NPA, sir. Sa aming barangay -- Barangay Tamayong, Purok 6 -- kaya nga ang isip ko [kapag] lumaki-laki ako, papasok din ako  sa anu-anong klase ng departmanento ng gobyerno, sir, para mabigyan ko naman ang tatay ko ng hustisya, sir,” an emotional Matobato narrated to Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trilllanes IV,  who had asked him to tell the panel of his background.

“Sa akin naman... Ang gusto ko naman, bago nila ako patayan, mabigyan naman ako ng hustisya,” he added.

Matobato claimed he only went to testify before the Senate because his life was also being threatened. He said he also wanted to divulge the truth to the public and give justice to those the group allegedly killed.

The witness clarified that he killed not because he was paid to but because he was seeking justice. He said he was not arrested for the deaths because he had police protection. He said that there were police officers with him during those operations.

“Ang dami nilang inutos sa akin, sir. Pagpatay, pag-ganyan, basta-basta lang silang sumusugod (pumupunta) sakin , sir. Umuutos, tapos ang dami ko nang nalalaman. Gusto naman nila ako patayin para lang ‘wag ako magsalita,” Matobato said.

“Kaya nga pumunta ako dito maski wala akong aral, maski wala akong kwan, sir, kaya nagkusang loob ako, sir, na pumunta, sir. Iyan lang ang sasabihin ko na totoong buhay ko,” he added.

Matobato said he believes that if he voluntary testify before he is killed, justice will have been served. He said he will not flee if he is arrested, citing old age.

Matobato was in the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice in 2014. However, he left the program for a reason he has yet to disclose.