A Davao City court will be issuing a warrant of arrest for Edgar Matobato after the self-confessed hitman failed to show up at a scheduled hearing.
Matobato was supposed to be arraigned on Tuesday at Davao City's Municipal Trial Court Branch 3 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition but he and his lawyer Atty. Gregorio Andolana failed to show up.
Judge Silverio Mandalupe said he will issue a warrant of arrest and cancel Matobato's bail bond in favor of the government.
Matobato, who had tagged President Rodrigo Duterte in summary killings during his time as mayor, is accused of carrying a Colt .45 caliber pistol outside of his home without a permit or valid authority on June 19, 2014.
"There [is] reasonable ground to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused is probably guilty," according to Assistant City Prosecutor Oliver Saniel.
Matobato was also earlier tagged in the abduction of alleged terrorist Sali Makdum.