Critics say the alleged killings in Davao, where Duterte was mayor for more than 20 years, established a pattern that has spread nationwide under the new presidency.
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Matobato recounted a 1993 death squad mission that was unintentionally impeded by the vehicle of an agent of the justice department’s National Bureau of Investigation that was blocking a road on the southern city of Davao. When he asked to be dismissed from the death squad, he said the members framed him for murder. The witness, Edgar Matobato, said that he carried out dozens of assaults and killings ordered by Duterte during the latter’s reign as mayor of Davao City.
Hundreds of people have died amid President Duterte’s war on drugs and it is likely thousands more will be killed before the campaign ends.
“Our job was to kill criminals‚ rapists‚ pushers and snatchers”. That’s what we did.
“As far as I know, there’s not a single incident that any of my staff or security personnel who were assigned to me while I was still (in) politics was killed, even when I ran for mayor in 2010”, Nograles said in a statement, noting that they are still alive.
“I think that is a malicious accusation.Statements like that should be supported by evidences, otherwise it is only an accusation or rumors”, he told reporters during the I-speak media conference on Thursday, September 15.
“Di ba inimbestigahan na noon yan ng Commission on Human rights nung sinaunang panahon, nung mayor pa si pangulo”.
Another spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said the allegations needed to be properly investigated.
This was confirmed by Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV who himself requested that the witness be placed under legislative immunity during the senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings.
Matobato accused Duterte of ordering a mosque bombing in the ’90s, instructing hitmen to “kill Muslims”, Reuters reports.
Matobato testified the death squad started out as a “liquidation squad” called “Lambada Boys”, which he said was formed by Duterte.
Numerous victims were abducted by members of the group who introduced themselves as police officers, then taken to a local quarry where they were killed and buried, he added.
The squad disembowelled, strangled, torched or hacked their victims to pieces, or weighed down their bodies with sand and concrete to sink to the bottom of a bay “for the fish to feed on”, he claimed. According to Matobato, more members – including rebel returnees and policemen – joined them in 1993.
Duterte unloaded two magazines of an Uzi submachine gun on Amisola, according to Matobato.
Matobato’s claims, which have not been independently confirmed, linked President Duterte and his son, Paolo Duterte, to a list of crimes worthy of a gangster film.
He added: “I will not dignify the accusations of a madman”. The UN and rights watchdogs roundly denounced his comments.
The account adds fresh detail to long-running allegations that Duterte ran a hit squad responsible for scores of deaths in Davao.
She said the Senate committee’s findings would be referred to the Philippine Ombudsman, although she acknowledged sitting presidents are immune from prosecution and could only be removed through impeachment.
“They were killed like chickens”, said Mr Matobato, who added he backed away from the killings after feeling guilty and entered a government witness-protection programme.
Alvarez, the family’s lawyer since 2002, said they had no plans to go after or sue President Duterte but would cooperate in any investigation that may be conducted.
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“Me? They are saying that I’m part of a death squad?”
