The making of Edgar Matobato, Ex-Davao Death Squad member & star witness in Duterte’s ICC Case

Teka Teka

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of violence, extrajudicial killings, and detailed accounts of brutality that may be distressing to some listeners.

Acting on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, Philippine authorities swiftly arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte on the morning of March 11, 2025. It was a long-awaited answer to calls for drug war accountability.

Duterte denies committing any crime. But before these dizzying developments, one man had already stepped forward with a chilling confession.

In this episode, we dive into the testimony of Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad. Matobato's revelations provide a firsthand account of the extrajudicial killings that defined Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Investigative journalist Sheila Coronel and an advocate for whistleblowers, Father Alabert Alejo, join us to discuss the challenges of verifying Matobato's account, the clandestine networks that offered him protection, and the broader implications for justice and accountability in the Philippines.

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