No special treatment for Matobato – Pimentel

No special treatment is necessary for confessed hitman and Senate investigation panel witness Edgar Matobato, said Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as he stood pat yesterday on his decision to decline the proposal to put the supposed former “Davao Death Squad” member the Senate’s protective custody primarily because of the institution’s lack of a witness protection program (WPP). Matobato is the witness presented last Thursday by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Leila de Lima, which is hearing the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and summary executions since President Rodrigo Duterte came into power. While he does not see any need to afford Matobato any special treatment, Pimentel said his colleagues should not be surprised since the witness’ allegations are no longer connected to De Lima’s resolution, which covers only the recent killings. “They should not have been surprised, we are elected by [...]