MATOBATO PLEAS COURT TO RECONSIDER ARREST ORDER

On Thursday, counsel of Edgar Matobato filed an urgent motion for reconsideration, asking the Municipal Trial Court in Cities of Davao City, Branch 3, to set aside its bench warrant ordering Matobato's arrest following his failure to attend his arraignment in the complaint for illegal possession of firearms filed in 2014.

In his motion, Matobato explained to the court his failure to attend his arraignment. According to Matobato, who testified in the Senate investigation on extra-judicial killings, he was unable to fly to Davao because he was scheduled to appear in the Senate hearing on Tuesday, 4 October 2016. This hearing was eventually cancelled.

Thus, Matobato prayed: "that the bench order for issuance of a Warrant of Arrest be reconsidered and set aside, and if a Warrant of Arrest has already been issued, the same should be recalled and set aside, and lastly that accused's bailbond be reinstated."

Matobato was earlier released by the court on bail, granting him provisional freedom as early as 2014.