THE Justice Department has recommended the filing of kidnapping charges against self-confessed killer Edgar Matobato, who claims to be a member of the Davao Death Squad, for the abduction of suspected terrorist Sali Makdum in Davao del Norte.
City Prosecutor Joseph M. Apao of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, ruled there is probable cause to hold Matobato, along with a Sonny Custodio, criminally liable for Makdum’s kidnapping.
The case arose from a complaint from Mirasol Marquez, the live-in partner of Makdum who was abducted on Nov. 9, 2000.
The prosecutor recommended no bail for Matobato and Custodio.
Matobato mentioned Makdum—name during a Senate hearing in which he testified that Makdum was taken by authorities and presented to then-Davao City police chief and now Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa.
Matobato will also be charged with frustrated murder over his attempt to kill an Agriculture Department adjudicator in Digos City, Davao del Sur, in October 2014.
On Jan. 5 this year, the Digos City prosecutor’s office found probable cause against Matobato following the frustrated-murder complaint filed against him by Abeto Salcedo Jr.
Prosecutors found out that Matobato shot Salcedo in October 2014 when Salcedo was about to leave his office in Digos City, but he survived the attack.
In October last year, the 57-year-old self-confessed hitman appeared before the Senate’s inquiry on the series of summary killings in the country that mostly involved alleged drug pushers and users.
In his testimony, Matobato accused President Rodrigo Duterte as the mastermind of the Davao Death Squad allegedly composed of the city’s policemen who killed criminals in cold blood.