Putting his foot down, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday said he intends to run the 24-member Senate based on rules. Pimentel issued the statement after two senators — Leila de Lima who chairs the Senate Justice and Human Rights committee and Antonio F. Trillanes IV – questioned his decision denying the De Lima committee’s recommendation to have its star witness, Edgar Matobato, secured by the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. Matobato claimed that the then Davao City Mayor now President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the killing of about 1,000 persons from 1988 to 2013. “I’ve denied the request for protective custody of witness Edgar Matobato because there is no Senate rule to justify it,” Pimentel said. “There’s even no showing that his (Matobato’s) life is or safety is threatened. Worse, the witness’ testimony is not even relevant to the resolution (of De Lima seeking a Senate inquiry on recent summary [...]
