Palace: Matobato complaint filed to harass, distract Duterte
Self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato filed complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes of murder, torture and kidnapping. AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File
MANILA, Philippines — The complaint that self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato filed against President Rodrigo Duterte is only aimed to distract the chief executive from his duties, Malacañang said Friday.
"The complaint is nothing but harassment," Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag said in a statement.
Matobato has filed complaints against Duterte and his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, for the alleged crimes of murder, torture and kidnapping.
READ: Matobato files murder, crimes against humanity raps vs Duterte
Banaag stressed that the president is immune from suit.
"It is noteworthy to mention that the ombudsman cannot discipline or remove impeachable officials, which include the president," Banaag said in a statement.
Banaag also noted that the Office of the Ombudsman had earlier terminated an investigation on the Davao Death Squad and Duterte's alleged links to it.
"However, we acknowledge the constitutional mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman to act on and investigate complaints against government officials," Banaag said.
During the Senate inquiry on extrajudicial killings in September, Matobato claimed that he was a member of the Davao Death Squad.
Matobato also claimed that Duterte formed the group when he became Davao City mayor in 1988.
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