BI to probe ‘hitman’ Matobato’s exit with fake identity

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration is set to investigate a report that confessed hitman Edgar Matobato has left the country with a fake identity.

A New York Times article published over the weekend revealed that Matobato allegedly fled to Dubai with his wife and two stepchildren under a different name. The article stated, “Matobato had managed to obtain a new identity with a new passport and a new job description: gardener.”

The article included photos of a bald Matobato in an airport, on a plane, and in other undisclosed locations. His ultimate destination was not disclosed.

The report said “priests and politicians” facilitated his escape. It added that the immigration officer who processed his exit stamped his passport without questions.

“We will be conducting an investigation into the information stated in the article,” Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval told NewsWatch Plus on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

“The commissioner is on top of the investigation,” she said, referring to Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

Matobato had been in hiding for a decade after testifying against former President Rodrigo Duterte. Matobato said he carried out killings as a member of the Davao Death Squad on Duterte's orders when he was mayor of Davao City.

According to the report, Matobato intends to testify before the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating Duterte for alleged extrajudicial killings.

In recent congressional hearings, Duterte admitted under oath that he killed people in Davao and instructed police officers to encourage criminals to fight back – and kill those who resisted. His allies argued that these statements should not be taken as confessions, claiming the former president often employs jokes and euphemisms in his speeches.