Senator Antonio Trillanes IV turns over Senate witness Edgar Matobato to Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Roland Dela Rosa on Friday.
The PNP chief met with Trillanes and the self-confesses hitman of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
A court issued an arrest warrant for Matobato after he failed to attend his arraignment scheduled last Tuesday. Matobato is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms filed in 2014; bail was set at P2,000.
Though his case is bailable, Matobato still needs to post bail and attend his arraignment in Davao City.
He earlier testitified against several Davo police officers, who he claims are member of the DDS, an alleged vigilante group led by then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Trillanes said Matobato's lawyers are now exhausting legal options to transfer the case in Manila.
"Teritoryo ng Presidente iyon, marami siyang tinuro sa Davao City. Itatapon natin sa lungga ng mga leon yung tao," said Trillanes.
[Translation: That is the territory of the President, he has taught many things to those in Davao. We will be throwing the man [Matobato] in the lion's den.]
Dela Rosa has assured Trillanes that Matobato is safe in the hands of the police in Camp Crame and even in Davao City.
"We’ll issue him with bulletproof vest, helmet. Mamamatay si Matobato over the dead bodies of these CIDG personnel who are assigned to escort him," Dela Rosa said.
Upon posting bail, Trillanes said he will once again take Matobato's custody.
Source / Image: CNN Philippines
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