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DFA Probes Report Matobato Left PH Using Passport with New Identity

Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is investigating reports that self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato has left the Philippines using a passport with a new identity.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA stated that it found no passport and biometrics records under the name ‘Edgar Matobato’. The DFA’s system is designed to flag any application under a new or assumed identity, preventing the issuance of a Philippine passport if an existing record and biometrics are already in the database.

The DFA highlighted that fraudulent applications are considered a ‘serious offense punishable under the Passport Law’. The department emphasized its commitment to continue investigating the matter and, if necessary, refer it to law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities for further examination.

The New York Times published a detailed feature on January 5 about Matobato, detailing his final days in hiding in the country until he departed for an undisclosed foreign location with his common-law wife and two stepchildren under a new name. The publication reported that Matobato had successfully obtained a new identity, a new passport, and a new job description as a gardener.