Paolo Duterte: I have never ordered my enemies killed

MANILA, Philippines – The president's son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, on Tuesday broke his silence to clear his name of allegations of self-confessed hitman and alleged death squad member Edgar Matobato.

"Never in my life that I ordered someone to kill my enemies," the vice mayor said in a released interview transcript.

On Sept. 15, Matobato testified before a Senate panel and claimed President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the killings of criminals suspects in Davao City and founded the so-called Davao Death Squad. He also tagged Paolo as a drug user and claimed that he ordered some of his enemies, including Cebu-based businessman Richard King, killed.

In his testimony, Matobato alleged Paolo was behind King’s death because they had a rivalry over a woman. This was denied by King’s family.

Paolo likewise denied Matobato’s accusations. He said he does not personally know King, who was killed inside his office in Barrio Obrero in Davao in 2014.

Matobato testified that King was killed inside a McDonald’s restaurant, which cast doubts on his credibility. Sen. Leila De Lima pointed out, however, that there was a McDonald's meters away from King's office.

The president's son disclosed that prior to King’s death, the victim tried to get in touch with him for a business transaction.

“The meeting never happened because he was murdered. I do not know King personally," he said.

Vice Mayor Duterte, who earlier refused to comment regarding Matobato’s allegations, said he broke his silence to address the claims of the witness whom he labeled as a “madman”.  Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV earlier moved to send him a summons so he can answer the allegations before the Senate.

However, Paolo refused to appear before the Senate and answer based only on Matobato’s testimony. He instead challenged the Senate to test Matobato’s mental health.

In his interview with the press, the vice mayor also denied Matobato’s claim that he worked as his bodyguard. Matobato, in his testimony, said he used to escort Paolo to Ateneo but the president earlier clarified that none of his children studied there.

“To tell you frankly, Mr. Matobato, I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you in this city, not even once," Paolo said.

Despite Matobato’s claims, Paolo said he is not planning to file any charges against the witness.

"Why would I file a case against a deranged person? It would be useless," he said.

Paolo dismissed Matobato’s allegation as a move to smear the president's reputation. —Rosette Adel