Trillanes cries coverup in Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Antonio Trillanes accused yesterday Sen. Richard Gordon of covering up for President Duterte with the Senate inquiry into the spate of drug-related extrajudicial killings all but shelved.

Trillanes said he was disappointed with Gordon’s performance as chairman of the Senate committee on justice, which on Tuesday moved to halt the investigation, particularly on the killings allegedly perpetrated by Davao death squads (DDS) from 1988 to 2013.

“I think he is determined apparently to shut this down, probably out of allegiance to President Dutere, but it smacks of a cover up,” Trillanes told ANC.

Gordon was elected chair of the committee last month after his predecessor, Sen. Leila De Lima, was ousted in a no-confidence vote.

The panel decided to hold one last hearing next week on the extrajudicial killings before coming up with a committee report.

Gordon has indicated that the testimony of self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato might be scrapped owing to his conflicting statements.

Matobato had testified that Duterte ordered the killings of over a thousand suspected criminals and opponents when he was mayor of Davao City through the DDS.

Trillanes said at first he thought Gordon would be objective and fair but when he outright expressed doubts over the testimony of Matobato, “he has shown his true colors.”

“He (Gordon) immediately gave a conclusion that Matobato is not credible, damaged goods, despite the fact that all of his information checked out,” Trillanes said. 

He said Gordon instead chose to believe the police officers Matobato accused as member of the DDS “even if I showed that they lied.”

Gordon bristled at Trillanes’ accusations, branding him as a “loose cannon.”

Gordon stressed that he was been very liberal with Trillanes and De Lima in the previous hearings and the committee practically bent rules to accommodate them.

Later in the day, Trillanes went to Gordon’s office to try to patch up their differences.

Gordon was supposed to deliver a privilege speech yesterday that was supposed to lead to the filing of an ethics complaint against Trillanes and De Lima over their behavior during the hearings.

However, the speech did not push through after the two senators talked, so it was assumed that there won’t be any complaint filed against them.

Gordon said he appreciated Trillanes’ gesture.

He also disclosed that his wife Kate interceded for De Lima.

He stressed whenever they debate, they were not personal.

“Sen. De lima has been under severe stress, I have never wanted to add to her stress…Every time I see her, I kiss her, I always encourage her,” Gordon told reporters.

Matobato in danger

Trillanes reiterated yesterday that Matobato’s life continues to be in danger.

“Remember this man (Matobato) volunteered to tell the whole world some information against the President who he claims to be the mastermind of the DDS,” Trillanes said.

“So that alone should be a given that he would be under threat from people interested in seeing him dead so we’re working on that assumption,” he said.

The senator took it upon himself to provide security to Matobato throughout the duration of the hearings. - With Edith Regalado