Matobato lawyer files motion to lift arrest warrant vs. confessed hitman

The legal counsel of Edgar Matobato on Monday arrived at the Davao City Municipal Trial Court and filed a motion seeking to lift the outstanding arrest warrant on the self-confessed Davao Death Squad member.

In his report on News to Go, GMA News' Cedric Castillo said lawyer Jud Sabio arrived at Branch 3 of the Davao City MTC around 9 a.m. to file a manifestation proving Matobato's detention at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame and follow-up the extremely urgent motion to lift Matobato's warrant issued on Thursday.

Sabio explained that Matobato had no legal representative during his October 4 arraignment for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition since the confessed DDS member formally removed his former counsel that same day.

Matobato's camp already paid the P2,000 bail in 2014 but was issued another arrest warrant for his failure to attend his arraignment.

Meanwhile, Sabio said he expects the prosecution to have file its comments and the court to issue a resolution on the motion within the day.

The report said if the court rules in favor of the motion, Matobato will either return to the custody of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV or at the hands of religious groups in Pangasinan who volunteered their services for Matobato.

Should the motion be denied, Matobato's camp will pay the P2,000 bail in Davao City.

Trillanes turned over Matobato to the Philippine National Police on Friday after securing his safety since he faced the Senate probe on the alleged extrajudicial killings. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/RSJ, GMA News