Trillanes asks Senate: Probe Rody over killings

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday urged the Senate to investigate President Duterte’s alleged involvement in the killing of over 1,000 people when he was mayor of Davao City.

Trillanes made the call after issuing a warning that the country is faced with the prospect of having a mass murderer for president.

In a privilege speech, Trillanes made a Powerpoint presentation of several documents and news reports to establish the credibility of self-confessed hit man Edgar Matobato, whose testimony before the Senate justice committee on extrajudicial killings was questioned by senators due to inconsistencies and changes in his statements.

“Now that we have seen the different corroborating evidence on the testimony of Matobato, we are faced with a frightening prospect – that of having a mass murderer as president of the country,” the senator said.

He wanted the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon to investigate the President based on the allegations of Matobato, who claimed to be a member of the so-called Davao death squad (DDS) that allegedly took orders from Duterte.

The 57-year-old witness claimed Duterte ordered the killing of over 1,000 suspected criminals and opponents in Davao City from 1998 to 2013.

The senator said he was sure that his colleagues have heard of rumors about the DDS and that the then Davao mayor was behind it.

“But we were able to look the other way because it was convenient for us to do so. All that has changed, we cannot look the other way anymore because now Matobato is staring us in the face,” Trillanes said. 

He said the Senate was now at a crossroads, with the whole world watching whether it will “sweep these serious allegations under the rug or we can decide to fulfill our mandate in our system of checks and balances by expanding our investigation, to rule out that possibility that indeed a mass murderer is President of the Republic.”

After a lengthy debate and two suspensions, the senators deferred final action on the motion and had it referred to the rules committee – chaired by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III – for further study after Trillanes agreed to amend his motion.

Among the documents Trillanes presented were Matobato’s “service card,” ID and ATM card as an employee of the Davao City government; a “job order” detailing him to the Heinous Crime and Investigation Section of the Philippine National Police in the city and a firearms license and permit to carry a Colt caliber .45 pistol.

Also presented was a document showing the pistol was sourced from Senior Police Officer 4 Arthur Lascañas, whom Matobato repeatedly tagged as the leader of his hit squad taking orders from Duterte.

Sotto decried Trillanes’ name-calling of Duterte, saying it was unparliamentary and violated rules. Trillanes apologized. 

Gordon and Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri said Trillanes’ motion was irregular and that the proper approach was for the House of Representatives to investigate the allegations in a possible impeachment process.

Gordon said he found it distasteful that Trillanes was speaking for Matobato. 

Trillanes denied he was part of a plot to oust Duterte.

“I’m not here to oust anybody – well, not yet at least – I’m just here proposing to investigate a very serious matter,” he said.

Insults

Cayetano and Trillanes found themselves quarreling again over Matobato and the investigation into the extrajudicial killings.

Their latest argument was triggered by Trillanes complaining that Cayetano was not really asking him questions but ranting and defending Duterte.

“I’m confused now. He started with the masking tape, he jumped to his parlor, whatever, so where is the debate?” Trillanes asked. 

Cayetano said Trillanes was evasive when he was interpellating him and kept on referring to his motion to investigate Duterte in the Senate.