Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV turns over Senate witness Edgar Matobato to Philippine National Police chief Director General Roland Dela Rosa on Friday.
Dela Rosa met with Trillanes and the self-confessed hitman at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Matobato went through booking procedures.
A court issued a warrant of arrest for Matobato after he failed to attend his arraignment Tuesday. He is facing charges of illegal possession of firearm filed in 2014. Bail was set at P2,000.
While his case is bailable, Matobato needs to post bail and to attend his arraignment in Davao City.
He earlier testified against several Davao policemen, who he claims are members of the vigilante group, the Davao Death Squad, which was allegedly led by then Davao City Mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Teritoryo ng Presidente iyon, marami siyang tinuro sa Davao City. Itatapon natin sa lungga ng mga leon yung tao,” said Trillanes.
[Translation: That is the territory of the President, he has taught many things to those in Davao. We will be throwing the man [Matobato] in the lion’s den.]
He said Matobato’s lawyers are now exhausting legal options to possibly transfer the processing of his case in Manila.
For the part of PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa, he assured Trillanes that Matobato is safe in the hands of the police in Camp Crame and even in Davao City.
Dela Rosa said Matobato will most likely spend the weekend in Camp Crame as it will take time to arrange his transfer to Davao City.
“We’ll issue him with bulletproof vest, helmet. Mamamatay si Matobato over the dead bodies of these CIDG personnel who are assigned to escort him,” he said.
Once Matobato has posted bail, Trillanes said he will once again take his custody.
Earlier in the day, Trillanes said Matobato’s claims in the Senate hearing are true, adding he will do whatever he can to get Matobato’s story out.
The Davao City Prosecutors Office recommended the filing of charges against Matobato on June 27, 2014 because Matobato had an expired firearm permit when police caught him with a gun near his residence in Sasa, Davao City on June 19, 2014.
CNN Philippines correspondent Joyce Ilas contributed to this report.
