A watch received by self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato from a police official he tagged as head of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) suddenly became a test of honesty at a Senate hearing on Monday.
At the resumption of proceedings on alleged extrajudicial killings, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV questioned SPO3 Arthur Lascañas on whether the watch he gave Matobato was brand new or second-hand.
The watch was an apparent show of friendship between Lascañas, allegedly “second-in-command” to President Rodrigo Duterte when Duterte was still mayor of Davao City, and Matobato, a self-confessed member of the DDS.
The police official, who denied the existence of DDS and close relations with the President, confirmed in the hearing that he was friends with Matobato because the latter linked him to selling land properties.
He said that in 2013, he bought a new watch, which he kept, and gave the one he was wearing to Matobato.
The receipt of the new watch was earlier submitted by the hitman before the Senate.
“Para malaman sino nagsasabi ng totoo, ang sabi mo ang binigay mo ay segunda mano. ‘Yung resibo, saka ‘yung lumang relo mo, ‘yun ang binigay mo?” Trillanes asked on Monday.
Lascañas replied: “As far as my memory is concerned, ‘yun po.”
When Trillanes pointed out that the police official was already qualifying his response and seemed unsure, the latter eventually said: “I will stand by my statement.”
“Kung ipapadala natin ang relo at resibo at nagkapareho ng serial number, malalaman natin sino nagsasabi ng totoo,” the senator then quipped.
Lascañas then replied: “Kung relo lang ang basehan sa credibility, may problema tayo.”
“Magkakaproblema ka,” Trillanes replied. “I gave you an opportunity to qualify. Kung ipapadala natin ang resibo at relo at nagkapareho ‘yon, wala na lahat ng sinabi mo. Kasi test of credibility ‘yon.”
The police official responded: “Wala pa ‘kong nabasa sa libro na ang test of credibility ay relo.”
Trillanes then said: “Pinapanindigan mo ‘yan, tapos ngayon mamimilosopo ka na. Alam mo, ino-obserbahan kita. Ang demeanor mo, iba. Nakita natin si [PNP chief] Gen. [Ronald] dela Rosa, ‘di ganyan. Ikaw, iba ang demeanor.”
The issue was again brought up when the interpellations resumed after the Senate session, with Trillanes presenting photos of the receipt and the back of the watch that Matobato received.
The senator pointed out that serial number PRG-240 appeared on both the receipt and the back of the watch. He said Lascañas failed the “simple test of credibility and honesty.”
“Ito, simple lang ito, SPO3 Lascañas. I gave you a chance na magsabi ng totoo. Harmless itong itinanong sa’yo, pero instinctively kailangan mong gumawa ng kuwento. Nu’ng binigyan kita ng pagkakataon to change it, hindi, nanindigan ka,” he said.
Trillanes added: “Ito nga ang lumabas: Nakalagay sa relo ni Mr. Matobato, serial number na nagma-match doon sa resibo… Mas mabigat ‘yan kaysa doon sa sinasabing inconsistency (ni Matobato). Simple lang itong test na ito and you failed.”
Lascañas asked if he could answer, but Trillanes said: “Sorry, you had your chance…”
However, Senate justice committee chair Richard Gordon allowed the police official to respond.
“The fact na may relo akong ibinigay, it’s either luma o bago, binigay ko sa kaniya ‘yung relo. So kung nabigay ko man ‘yung bagong binili, may nabigay ako,” he said.
Trillanes replied: “You got your answer, Mr. Chair. Anyway, I’ve proven my point. Nahuli nating nagsisinungaling si Mr. Lascañas.”
After the senator’s questioning, Gordon eventually said: “The Chair recognizes that the watch had been given. Whether or not it was second-hand or brand new has not been proven. Let it be as it is.” [source]