‘Matobato case only meant to harass Duterte’

Palace official says self-confessed hitman Matobato’s complaints before ombudsman only serves to distract President from performing for the country

MALACAÑANG brushed aside last Friday the filing of complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte by self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a statement, Communications Assistant Secretary for Operations and Special Concerns Marie Banaag said the cases filed against the President were only meant to harass him and distract him from performing his mandate to serve the country.

“The complaint is nothing but harassment aimed at distracting the Chief Executive from performing his duty,” said Banaag.

Earlier in the day, Matobato, who testified before the Senate probe into the extrajudicial killings last September, charged Duterte with murder, kidnapping, torture and kidnapping.

Matobato, who claimed to be a member of the vigilante group Davao Death Squad, alleged that Duterte masterminded the killings in Davao City when he was then city mayor.

While Banaag refused to comment on the filing of complaints, she stressed that the prior cases filed against Duterte, in relation to Davao killings, did not prosper.

“The Ombudsman already terminated an earlier investigation on the Davao Death Squad case, which linked then Davao City Mayor Duterte,” she said.

Banaag acknowledged that the Ombudsman can investigate the alleged irregularities done by public officials but noted that it “cannot discipline or remove” Duterte since he is immune from any impeachment suit.

“We acknowledge the constitutional mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman to act on and investigate complaints against government officials,” Banaag said.

“(But) it is noteworthy to mention that the Ombudsman cannot discipline or remove impeachable officials, which include the President. He enjoys immunity while in office,” she added.