Matobato asks Ombudsman to probe Duterte over DDS links

President Rodrigo Duterte is facing a complaint filed by confessed Davao Death Squad hitman Edgar Matobato before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, over his alleged links to the spate of extrajudicial killings in his hometown of Davao City.

Matobato, in a criminal and administrative complaint filed through Atty. Jude Sabio, asked the Ombudsman to investigate Duterte and 27 others for the following crimes:

– Murder, or violation of Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code

– Kidnapping, or violation of Article 267 of the RPC

– Violation of Republic Act No. 9745, or the Anti-Torture Act.

– Violation of Section 6(a), (f), (h), (i), and (k) of R.A. No. 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

Also named respondents were Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and several Davao City police officers.

In his four-page affidavit, written in Tagalog, Matobato said that as mayor of Davao City, Duterte “created and led” the group that was then called the Lambada Boys in March 1988.

The group, he claimed, consisted of Davao City police officers and some civilians.

“Nagsasagawa ito ng extrajudicial killings o pagpatay ng mga pinagsususpetsahan na mga kriminal gaya ng hold-uppers, rapists, snatchers, drugs pushers, drug addicts at iba pang mga indibidwal na inuutos ni Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,” the affidavit stated.

(This group commits extrajudicial killings, or the killing of suspected criminals, such as hold-uppers, rapists, snatchers, drugs pushers, drug addicts, and other individuals as ordered by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.)

Matobato claimed that from 1988 until he left in 2013, the DDS has killed “more than 1,000 people.”

He said that when he quit the DDS in September 2013, he experienced torture.

“Ang reklamong (Complaint-Affidavit) ito ay aking inihain upang magsagawa ng imbestigasyon ang Kagalang-galang na Ombudsman para panagutin sa batas ang mga nabanggit na miyembro ng DDS,” Matobato said.

(I filed this complaint-affidavit for the Honorable Ombudsman to conduct investigation and hold accountable the aforementioned members of the DDS.)

READ: Senate panel recommends perjury, murder raps vs Matobato

Jude Sabio, Matobato’s counsel, said they are well aware of Duterte’s presidential privilege of immunity from suit. However, he said it is time to challenge it, especially since it is not guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution.

“Paano kung ang presidente natin ay isang serial killer, mass murderer, psychopath? Pwede ba yun? Kahit isang tao lang ang pinatay di ka dapat maging pangulo,” Sabio told INQUIRER.net.

(What if our president is a serial killer, a mass murderer, a psychopath? Is that allowed? Even if you kill just one person you should not deserve to be president.)

Apart from the Dutertes and Dela Rosa, Matobato also named the following police officials as respondents:

– P/SSupt. Dionisio Abude (ret.)

– SPO3 Arthur Lascañas

– SPO4 Sanson Buenaventura

– SPO4 Bienvenido Laud

– P/CInsp. Jacy Francia

– P/CInsp. Fulgencio Pavo

– P/CInsp. Ronald Lao

– SPO4 Jim Tan

– SPO1 Reynante Medina

– SPO1 Bienvenido Furog

– SPO1 Vivencio Jumawan

– SPO3 Rizalino Aquino

– SPO2 Enrique delos Reyes Ayao

– SPO3 Donito Ubales

– SPO3 Jun Laresma

– SPO1 Jun Bisnar

– P/SSupt. Rey Capote

– P/SSupt. Tony Rivera

– PO3 Arnold Dechavez (ret.)

– Col. Isidero Florivel

Matobato also impleaded the following individuals he said were based at the City Hall:

– Ludy Pagidupon

– Jojo Bosa

– Romel Capitana

– Instik Tan

– Boboy Maldito

READ: 11 senators sign report belying existence of state killings, DDS

— With a report from Kristine Sabillo, INQUIRER.net. CDG/rga