Senators note ‘inconsistencies’ in Matobato testimony

Witness Edgar Matobato testifies before the Senate probe on the alleged extrajudicial killings headed by new Committee Chairman Richard Gordon at the Senate in Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

Senators have questioned the credibility of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, noting the many “inconsistencies” in his testimony in the ongoing Senate probe on alleged spate of killings in the country.

“It is important that we test the credibility of the accuser, and the veracity of the allegations. Napakabigat po ng mga akusasyon ni Ginoong Matobato, subalit sa aking pananaw, mukhang maraming “inconsistencies” at “hindi tugma”sa kanyang mga naging pahayag sa nakalipas na dalawang hearings,” Senator Sonny Angara, a lawyer, said in a statement Thursday.

“Ganunpaman, hayaan natin ang komite na makapagbuo ng kanilang pasya kung anong rekumendasyon at aksyon ang kanilang gagawin. Ang mahalaga dito ay ang taong bayan ay nagmamasid, nakikinig at may pakialam sa isyung ito,” Angara added.

READ: Matobato flip-flops on alleged Duterte role in Makdum slay

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he was surprised why some people believed that Matobato was a credible witness.

“Lalong (It became more) obvious yesterday that he is not [a credible witness],” Sotto said in a text message on Friday.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said Matobato’s credibility has crumbled, if not shattered, after Thursday’s hearing of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, joint with the committee on public order.

“Maraming pahayag siyang ginawa kahapon na talagang nakakalito na,” Lacson, chair of the committee on public order, said in a separate text message.

“Pinaka revealing ang ginawang pagtatanong ni Senator (Manny) Pacquiao na kapag totoo ang sinasabi ng isang tao, hindi niya ito makakalimutan. Kapag itinuro lamang o kasinungalingan, talagang mahirap matandaan,” he said.

Lacson also noted how Matobato would often look at Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV before answering the questions being thrown at him during the hearing.

It was De Lima, former head of the committee on justice and human rights, who presented Matobato in the hearings.

Matobato, who claimed to be a former member of so-called Davao Death squad, has accused President Rodrigo Duterte of ordering the killings of criminals and enemies when the latter was still the mayor of Davao City. CDG/rga

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