THE legal counsel of former Davao Police Regional Intelligence Unit chief Leonardo Felonia, who was tagged in the murder of Cebu-based businessman Richard King on June 12, 2014, said that they are now evaluating the credibility of the testimony of the self-confessed hitman who appeared before the Senate probe Thursday, September 15, and whether this testimony can be used to strengthen his client's claim.
In a text message to VoxPop Davao Thursday, Felonia's legal counsel Lawyer Caesar Europa recognized that Edgar Motabato's testimony during the Senate hearing was aligned with his client's position.
"The testimony of Mr. Edgar Matobato corroborates the position of Col. Leonardo A. Felonia, that he had nothing to do with the killing of Richard King and the self-confessed gunman and his companions were not the ones who actually killed Richard King," Europa said.
Aside from Felonia, three others were also tagged in King's murder namely Paul Labang, who was the self-confessed gunman, and siblings Rodel and Rommel dela Cerna also known as the Dela Cerna brothers.
Matobato, who claimed to be a Davao Death Squad (DDS) member during the EJK hearing Thursday, said that it was Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte who ordered the killing of King due to rivalry over a woman.
Matobato also claimed that two rebel returnees whom he named as Joel Tapales and Loloi Gabas were allegedly tasked to kill King and were given P500,000. However, the gunmen were also killed later.
When asked how he knew that it was Duterte who ordered the killing, Matobato said that the vice mayor went to their office where the killing was planned.
He said he wanted to quit but the group tagged him as the gunman in the killing of King which was an attempt to silence him.
"June 12 napatay si King, pagdating ng June 19 hinuli nila ako, ginagawaan nila ako ng paraan para hindi na ako magsalita. Tinorture ako ng isang linggo pero mabuti na lang at hindi ako na-salvage," Matobato alleged.
Matobato said former Davao region police intelligence chief Superintendent Leonardo Felonia was also tagged as mastermind in the killing.
"Ako ang tinuturo nilang pumatay, si Felonia ang sinabi nilang mastermind. Sa pagkakaalam ko, naka-detain si Col. Felonia dahil sa pagpatay kay Richard King," Matobato said.
Europa, however, underscored that they are currently evaluating the credibility of the Matobato's revelation and its possible impact on Felonia's case.
According to Europa, if Matobato's testimony will be proven true, Matobato can stand as a witness for Colonel Felonia.
Felonia is still being tried for King's murder before the sala of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 16 under Presiding Judge Emmanuel Carpio.
The trial for the case is already set on November 14 and 15, 21 and 22, and December 12. (KVC)