Matobato ordered arrested

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A court in Davao del Norte yesterday ordered the arrest of Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad, and a certain Sonny Custodio over the kidnapping and murder of Sali Makdum in 2000.

Panabo City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga did not recommend bail.

Matobato told a Senate hearing last year that he was part of a seven-member team who kidnapped Makdum and brought him to the office of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force in Davao City, which was then headed by Ronald dela Rosa, now Philippine National Police chief.

Matobato said they took Makdum from a market on Samal Island and killed him upon the instruction of then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte. 

In January,  the Department of Justice indicted Matobato for frustrated murder in connection with the ambush of retired agrarian reform adjudicator Abeto Salcedo Jr. 

Earlier this month, a court in Digos City, Davao del Sur ordered Matobato and lawyer Norberto Sinsona arrested also for frustrated murder. Matobato posted bail of P200,000.