DFA: Confessed hitman Matobato has no travel documents
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday bared that it found no passport records for Edgar Matobato, the self-confessed hitman who linked former president Rodrigo Duterte to a Davao death squad.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) previously said that it is investigating the reported departure of the confessed hitman from the Philippines.
“[We] found no passport and biometrics records under the name Edgar Matobato. Any application under a new or assumed identity will be flagged by the system, and a Philippine passport will not be issued, if there is already an existing record and biometrics in the database,” said the DFA.
“Fraudulent application for passport is a serious offense punishable under the Passport Law,” it warned.
The DFA said it will continue to investigate the matter, and if warranted, refer the matter to law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities for further investigation.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to a Jan. 5, 2025 article in the New York Times, Matobato was able to obtain a new identity, passport and job as a gardener.
“We will be conducting an investigation into the information stated in the article,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval in a message then.