NBI-Semro still looking for Lascañas, Matobato

THE National Bureau of Investigation-Southern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-Semro) is still monitoring intelligence information to ascertain the whereabouts of the two most wanted personalities here in the country.

NBI-Semro director lawyer Mario Francisco Tonelete said they have no report yet as to the whereabouts of retired policeman Arturo Lascañas, who earlier claimed being a handler of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), and self-proclaimed DDS member Edgar Matobato.

"It's been four months already since I assumed this post, but until now, we do not have any update yet on Lascañas and Matobato. Hindi pa rin sila mahanap (They still can’t be found)," Tonelete told Sun.Star Davao.

Lascañas and Matobato earlier implicated President Rodrigo Duterte, who was mayor of the Davao City for 22 years, to be behind the extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the DDS.

The retired policeman was earlier charged with murder and two counts of frustrated murder following the death of radio announcer Juan “Jun” Pala Jr. The latter was gunned down last September 6, 2003.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier ordered the NBI to locate Lascañas who left for Singapore on April 8, 2017,

which was confirmed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Lascañas is placed in the International Police Organization (Interpol) Red Notice.

Matobato, on the other hand, was reportedly last seen in a province in Eastern Visayas. The self-proclaimed gunman was earlier charged with kidnapping, frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms.