Confessed assassin Edgar Matobato (left) claimed that Paolo Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, used illegal drugs. Matobato testified on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, before the committee headed by Sen. Leila de Lima. It was De Lima who presented Matobato as witness. RICHARD REYES / INQUIRER FILE
President Rodrigo Duterte’s own son is also a drug user, a confessed assassin claimed before a Senate hearing on Thursday.
“Sa pagkakaalam ko lang … parang gumagamit yan ng drugs, itong si Paolo Duterte. Matagal na yun bata pa,” said Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin who was presented by Sen. Leila de Lima, chair of the committee on justice and human rights.
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Matobato was referring to Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte. He said he knew about the vice mayor’s drug use because he used to be part of his security group.
Matobato made the allegation against Paolo while responding to questions of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
“Sa pagkakakilala mo, since nandun ka sa loob ng pamilya, si Paolo Duterte ay isang addict. ‘Yun ba nag sinasabi nyo?” Trillanes asked.
“Opo, gumagamit s’ya pero hind yan nagtutulak,” Matobato said.
He said the vice mayor used shabu.
“Nagsha-shabu si Paolo Duterte na anak noong ating President na talagang masigasig sa war against drugs,” Trillanes said. He added, “Unfortunately, yung ibang mga addict ay pinapatay kaagad pero si Paolo D, vice mayor ngayon ng Davao City.”
Matobato claimed that the vice mayor was not only a drug user but was also behind the killings of several people in Davao City.
“Umuutos, pumapatay ng tao si Paolo Duterte. Parang sadista na rin sila. Marami na iniutos na pinapatay. Ganyan ‘yan parang sabog, he said.
“Pumupunta ng opisina, at umuutos na patayin nyo —parang manok ang tao sa Davao City, pinapatay lang walang dahilan.”
Asked by Trillanes what he meant by “sabog,” Matobato said: “Parang lulong sa droga si Paolo. Minsan nagwawala yan. Minsan nagwawala. Sabog yan.”
Before this, Trillanes moved to subpoena the vice mayor and all members of the so-called Davao Death Squad, which allegedly included members of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation./rga