MANILA, Philippines – Five policemen implicated in the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) torture and killings were absent during the preliminary hearing of their cases at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday.

The cops headed by Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. were SPO1 Reynante Medina, SPO2 Rizalino Aquino, SPO2 Bienvenido Furog and SPO4 Arthur Lascanas.

Since the respondents did not appear nor sent their legal counsels, the first hearing of the case regarding the violation of Republic Act 9745 or the “Anti-Torture Law,” in relation to arbitrary detention as defined in Section 3, Article 124 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and R.A. 7438 or the law that protects the rights of an accused, did not materialize.

On the other hand, Edgar Matobato, who earlier surfaced and admitted that he was a former hitman of the DDS, was present to serve as a witness together with his wife.

Matobato and his wife appeared before Prosecutor Roman Parocha. They executed their own affidavits against the policemen.

Respondents were given a deadline of until Sept. 29, 2015 where they can file and submit their respective counter-affidavits.