National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is set to present the bureau’s full investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family when he testifies before the Senate impeachment court next week, House prosecutors said.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the House prosecution panel, said Matibag will take the witness stand on Tuesday, July 21, as the prosecution’s final witness for the fourth article of impeachment against Duterte.
“Sa darating pong Martes, si NBI Director Melvin Matibag ang huli pong isasalang ng prosekusyon para sa article on threats para tahiin ang kabuuan ng naging imbestigasyon ng NBI dito sa continuing threat ng Pangalawang Pangulo laban sa ating Pangulo at sa kanyang pamilya,” Ridon said during a press briefing.
The fourth article of impeachment accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust and other impeachable offenses over her Nov. 23, 2024 statement claiming she had contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed.
Ridon said Matibag’s testimony would cover more than the digital forensic evidence and cybercrime investigation already presented before the impeachment court.
“Hindi lang po ito cybercrime investigation katulad ng ginawa ni Atty. Lotoc at ni Agent Calilung, kundi ang iba pang mga ulat mula sa kabuuan ng opisina ng NBI,” he said.
The prosecution has so far presented NBI Special Agent John Mark Calilung, who authenticated the Nov. 23, 2024 video containing Duterte’s statements, and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified that the bureau recommended filing three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against the Vice President.
Meanwhile, House impeachment spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the defense had failed to undermine the credibility of the prosecution’s first two witnesses during cross-examination.
“Nakita naman natin sa dalawang testimonya ng aming mga witnesses… hindi pa ho nagigiba ’yung credibility ng aming mga testigo,” Barbers said.
Barbers also pointed out that the defense relied on the same authenticated video presented by the prosecution during its cross-examination of Calilung.
“Itong ebidensyang in-authenticate ng aming unang witness ay in-authenticate din naman ng panig ng depensa dahil kitang-kita na ginamit din nila itong ebidensyang ito,” he said.
