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MANILA – Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte on Friday described as a “piece of garbage” the complaint filed by self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato to the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged existence of the Davao Death Squad.
In a statement sent to GMA News Online, Duterte said the criminal and administrative charges filed against him, his father President Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief director general Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and 25 others only affirms the country’s democracy.
“Any person should not be precluded from filing complaints against anyone if he or she feels that his or her rights have been violated. I respect that,” he said.
But he reiterated that Matobato’s allegations against them are “nothing but a product of the imagination of a madman.”
“A closer look at what was filed at the Ombudsman will easily allow us to see the only thing consistent in the Matobato tales – lies,” he said.
“What he filed at the Ombudsman was just a piece of garbage,” Duterte added.
Malacañang said Matobato’s statement was only meant to harass and distract the President from doing his duty.
Matobato has claimed to be a former member of the DDS, the group he claims is responsible for the summary execution of over 1,000 suspected criminals and other individuals from the time it was established in 1988 until the time he left in 2013.
Duterte had ruled Davao City as mayor for many terms and is known for his tough anti-crime stance. His anti-illegal drug campaign as president is being blamed for the deaths of over 5,000 drug suspects. (GMA News)
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