We will protect Matobato, PNP chief Bato dela Rosa assures Trillanes

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Friday assured Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that they will do everything to protect and secure self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato under their  custody. 

“Sisiguraduhin namin na safe yung witness na tinurn-over sa amin. I have given him my word that we will protect Matobato,” Dela Rosa said at a press conference while Matobato was undergoing the booking process at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Matobato, who has linked President Rodrigo Duterte to killings in Davao City, was turned over by Trillanes to Dela Rosa. Trillanes had been securing Matobato since the confessed hitman testified at the Senate.

“Hindi magagalusan yan. We will do everything. Kung gusto ninyo we will issue him bullet-proof vest, helmet, and goggles. Maski armorize natin ang buong katawan niya, kung kinakailangan papasuutin namin siya ng bomb suit,” Dela Rosa added.

He said if ever Matobato will be killed, the CIDG personnel guarding him will be first to die before him.

“Now I’m giving assurance na kung mamamatay si Matobato over the dead bodies of my CIDG men,” he said. 

He added that he is very grateful to Trillanes for the confidence he has given him in connection with Matobato.

Trillanes, who was also present at the press conference, thanked Dela Rosa for the assurance, adding he has no reason to doubt it.

The PNP chief said Matobato will stay inside the PNP compound over the weekend as getting airline tickets takes time.

Safer in Davao?

Asked where Matobato will stay, CIDG director Chief Supt. Roel Obusan said it cannot be revealed due to security reasons. 

Dela Rosa, for his part, explained: “Mamaya sabihin namin dito sa CIDG siya tapos maraming galit sa kanya dito mag-attack sa CIDG, so wala na.  O kaya hindi natin alam baka mamaya ma-locate yung PNP Custodial Center,  tapos ma-locate yung location niya, paliparan ng drone doon tapos bagsakan ng bomba yung kanyang building. Mahirap na.”

He believed Matobato will be safer in Davao if ever he is brought there to face the court — a claim contradicted by Trillanes, who noted that Davao City is the hometown of Duterte.

"Alam ninyo naman teritoryo ng Presidente yan, marami siyang tinuro doon sa Davao City. Ilalagay naman natin, itatapon natin siya sa lungga ng mga leon kumbaga,” Trillanes said.

The senator said he will exhaust all options to transfer Matobato’s case to Manila.

"Sa akin pwede naman, may precedents naman na tina-transfer yung venue para dito na litisin," he said. "All the legal options, we will exercise that." — RSJ/KBK, GMA News