Malacañang on Tuesday said that it does not “encourage nor discourage” self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato from testifying against former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial drug war.
Bersamin’s remarks came after a report from The New York Times revealed that Matobato, an alleged member of the Davao Death Squad, had exited the Philippines with his wife and two stepchildren.
“We have no connection with Mr. Matobato. Whatever his purpose in going out, we cannot control that,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said.
Asked whether Malacañang was aware of Matobato’s plans to testify against former president Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial drug war, Bersamin clarified that the Palace had no involvement.
“We neither encourage nor discourage him,” Bersamin said.
Matobato gained prominence after testifying before the Senate in 2016 about the alleged existence of the Davao Death Squad, which he claimed was involved in extrajudicial killings when Duterte was city mayor.
According to the New York Times report, Matobato had obtained a new identity with a new passport and a new job description: gardener. It said that unnamed politicians and priests arranged his exit through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and that he and his family took a long-haul flight to Dubai before heading to an undisclosed location.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Malacañang denies links to self-confessed hitman Matobato.”
