WHISTLEBLOWER

Witness: Filipino President Duterte Ordered Deaths of 1,000

Former assassin turns on boss in Philippines.

A man who testified before the Philippines Senate on Thursday said that President Rodrigo Duterte, who had previously served as a city mayor, ordered the killings of alleged criminals that led to 1,000 deaths. Former militiaman Edgar Matobato, 57, said during the hearing that he heard Duterte, who was mayor at the time, order the deaths. Matobato admitted that he killed up to 50 people for Duterte while serving as an assassin. Duterte has come under fire for causing thousands of deaths in a drug war since he assumed the presidency in June, but Matobato is the first person who has admitted on record that he played a role in any killings ordered by Duterte.