PNP Chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa says the Philippine National Police will secure Edgar Matobato who onced faced the hearing of the Senate on extra-judicial killings.
Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa assured that Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hit man from the Davao Death Squad, will be safe in the custody of the PNP.
This was the assurance of dela Rosa after the alleged hit man of DDS surrendered to him on Friday. This was after a Davao City court issued a warrant of arrest against Matobato after the failure tio attend the scheduled hearing last Tuesday.
Matobato surrendered at police headquarters Camp Crame earlier on Thursday.
The charges he is facing is in connection to carrying a .45-caliber pistol without a permit on June 19, 2014.
Following his surrender, Dela Rosa told reporters, “Hindi magagalusan yan. Pasuotin ng bulletproof vest, helmet, kahit bomb suit.”
According to Dela Rosa, Matobato will be issued a bulletproof vest, kevlar helmet, bullet proof goggles and mask as part of the security measures.
He said that in order to be safe, the police will even “armorize” the whole body of Matobato, if possible.
On Monday, Matobato will be flown to Davao City so that he will appear before the court.
Matobato said he no longer fears for his life, given his life to God, especially that he is under police protection.
Few weeks before, Matobato faced the hearing of the Senate committee on justice and human rights then chaired by Senator Leila de Lima. He tagged dela Rosa as among the personalities behind the slew of unexplained killings in Davao City while President Rodrigo Duterte was still mayor.
But for his part, the PNP Chief said he has no “personal grudge” against the self-confessed hit man of the Death Squad.
Accompanying Matobato on Friday morning, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said that the suspect has no intention to skip his arraignment in Davao City.
The senator emphasized that the hearing in Davao City was set on the same day that the Senate was also scheduled to hold an inquiry into the extrajudicial killings, wherein Matobato is a witness.