Monday, October 03, 2016

TRUTH OR LIE: SENATE HEARING ON EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS (OCTOBER 3, 2016)



All Filipinos wanted to know the truth and only the truth. Was the senate witness, Edgar Matobato telling the truth or not? This has been the question that has been posted and remains unanswered for the past Senate hearing.

Allegations made by the said witness has caused turmoil not only to some Filipino people but also the international communities regarding the involvement of President Rodrigo Duterte with the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) who has been labeled by media as the people behind the killings during his time as the Mayor of Davao City.

Stones have been thrown to many names by the said witness and today’s hearing was supposed to be the confrontation of the said witness with the other people he had mentioned. Who has casted the first stone? All would agree that it was Matobato since alleging the involvement of people to different killings.

The said witness mentioned his involvement to some of the killings. He also mentioned that his conscience has been bothering him as to the reason for his appearance as a witness. Yet, inconsistency has been his greatest enemy as many senators and people who are following the hearing noticed.

Is he then telling the truth? Such is yet to be examined more. On today’s hearing, a trivial scene happened. The smooth of presentation and examination of witnesses had taken place until the last hour of the senate hearing late evening. It was presented that a case was filed against Matobato regarding the kidnapping of Makdum with other unknown people contrary to his claim that some of today's witnesses are the responsible for the death of Makdum.

I would give the benefit of the doubt that Sen. Leila De Lima has no involvement with the conclusion of Sen. Gordon that there is a concealment. I would give the benefit that she has forgotten to mention before that Matobato has case filed against him in connection with the death of Makdum.

The question that I would like to be cleared about is why has Matobato suddenly disappear when the said topic of his case has been brought out? For security purpose as Sen. Trillanes has explained? Yet, is it not that only the chairman of the Senate hearing should be the one who could be excused or not on the part of witnesses? Why did Sen. Trillanes decide with even informing first the chairman of the hearing?

Those questions, I believe, provoke Sen. Gordon to burst his disappointment of what is happening and to conclude that there is concealment that is happening. As to the excuse of Sen. Trillanes that they could ask Matobato tomorrow is unacceptable for me. I may not be a lawyer but obviously there would be doubt tomorrow if Matobato has already been coached on how to answer questions that could be thrown to him supposedly today.

What could have happened if Matobato appeared after the case has been brought out? All of us could speculate many things on what could have happened. Yet, one thing I am sure of. It is the right of the people of the Philippines to know the truth and only the truth. Is Matobato saying the truth or lie? Was there concealment or none at all?