Davao court orders Matobato arrest on gun raps

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A Davao City court will issue a warrant of arrest for self-confessed hit man Edgar Matobato after he failed to show up at a scheduled hearing here yesterday. 

Matobato was supposed to be arraigned before the Davao City Municipal Trial Court Branch 3 for a case of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition filed against him in 2014.

But he and his lawyer Gregorio Andolana failed to show up at yesterday’s court hearing. 

MTC Branch 3 Judge Silverio Mandalupe said he would issue a warrant of arrest and cancel Matobato’s bail bond.

Matobato has accused President Duterte of being behind summary killings that took place in Davao when he was mayor of the city.

Matobato faces charges for carrying a .45-caliber pistol without a permit on June 19, 2014.

Matobato was also earlier tagged in the kidnapping of a certain Sali Makdum in 2002. The prosecution reportedly filed a case against Matobato before the National Bureau of Investigation.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who claimed to be responsible for the safekeeping of Matobato, said he would comply with the legal processes once a warrant is issued.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights conducting an inquiry on the alleged extrajudicial and summary killings of suspected drug offenders, said the Senate is done with Matobato and he should be arrested for the crime he allegedly committed.

Matobato, during a Senate hearing, accused presidential son and city Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of killing Cebu-based businessman Richard King and other political enemies.

Paolo denied the allegations, saying he does not personally know King, who was killed in 2014 inside his office in Barrio Obrero in Davao City.

Paolo said King wanted to get in touch with him over a business transaction.

“The meeting never happened because he was murdered,” he said. “I do not know King personally.” – Marvin Sy