QUEZON City, Philippines – The Senate joint probe on the extra-judicial killings was postponed after a row between the members of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Before this, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV informed the senators during the hearing Monday night (October 3) that Senate witness and former member of Davao Death Squad Edgar Matobato was no longer in his custody.
This surprised and angered Senate committee on justice and human rights chair Senator Richard Gordon. He said this violated the rules of the Senate since Trillanes did not seek the Senate’s permission for this as there was still an ongoing inquiry where Matobato might still be needed.
During the Senate inquiry, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials bared that Matobato has a kidnapping for ransom case which is still pending since its filing in 2000. The Senate will conduct a closed door meeting to thresh out its next step.
The motion for the termination of the hearing was made by Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and backed by Senator Allan Peter Cayetano.
Initially, the Senate hearings were scheduled from October 3 to October 7.