Kit Mateo, 56, dies of cancer

An ex-convict who became a civilian agent of the defunct Military Intelligence Security Group (MISG) and who implicated Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson in several "summary executions" in the past, died Saturday of cancer of the colon in a hospital in Mandaluyong City.

According to a relative, Francisco "Kit" Mateo died at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital at about 3:00 p.m. Saturday. His remains lie in state at Funeraria Paz along Araneta Ave., Quezon City.

Veteran reporters covering the Camp Crame beat revealed that Mateo, 56, a former member of the notorious Contreras Gang in the early 1970s, joined Lacson, a former MISG officer, as an "asset" of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission in 1993.

Mateo became controversial when he implicated police Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya and Chief Superintendent Dictador Alqueza in the alleged kidnap-for-ransom of Taiwanese businessman Jack Chou in July 1993.

Mateo and Berroya were convicted of the charges by a Makati City court. On appeal, Alqueza was later absolved by the Supreme Court of the charges.

Berroya, after serving four years in jail, was cleared by the SC while Mateo was given a presidential pardon in November last year.

An intelligence report in 1998 signed by a senior PNP officer said Mateo was picked up from his house on July 23, 1993 without any warrant allegedly on orders of Lacson.

Using threats, Mateo was ordered to testify falsely against Alqueza and Berroya in connection with the kidnap case.

Mateo refused. He then filed charges of unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, grave threats and violation of domicile against Lacson and others on August 11, 1993.

Mateo appeared on national television last November and at his sickbed at home, linking Lacson and his men to several summary executions, including the alleged abduction and killing of the sister and niece of slain Red Scorpion Group leader Joey De Leon in Makati City in 1993.

Lacson denied the accusation made by the dying Mateo, who confirmed all his statements in a video-taped interview with a television reporter.

Under mysterious circumstances, however, Mateo later retracted his statements after he was reportedly forced to sign an affidavit. – Christina Mendez