The House prosecution panel on Wednesday wrapped up its presentation of evidence over Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after concluding the testimony of its final witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag.
“The prosecution finds it unnecessary to conduct redirect examination,” lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro told the impeachment court, formally ending Matibag’s appearance.
Matibag was the prosecution’s third and final witness on the impeachment article stemming from Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 statement that she had arranged for someone to assassinate President Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed.
The prosecution earlier presented NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, who authenticated the recording of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference, and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified on the bureau’s investigation that led to the filing of complaints for grave threats and inciting to sedition before the Department of Justice.
During Wednesday’s cross-examination, the defense challenged the NBI’s findings, saying that Duterte’s statements had been taken out of context. The defense also questioned the bureau’s continuing investigation into the alleged threats.
“Mahirap po para sa aming law enforcement na ’yung ganyang mga statement ay aming pong babalewalain (It is hard for us in law enforcement to ignore those kind of statements),” Matibag answered.
He also disclosed that the NBI had investigated Duterte’s own allegations that her life was under threat and had twice invited her to participate, but she did not appear.
The NBI chief also maintained that Duterte’s own public admissions had already consummated betrayal of public trust, regardless of whether investigators ultimately identify the person she allegedly asked to kill President Marcos or not.
“Because the point being is, the betrayal of public trust [has] already been consummated when she publicly admitted, there is already an admission that she contracted a killer, a mamamatay-tao, an assassin, to kill the President,” he added.
During his direct examination on Tuesday, Matibag disclosed that the NBI’s special task force had already identified several “persons of interest” who could help determine whom Duterte allegedly contacted.
He described the investigation as “continuing and active” and said disclosing the identities of those persons of interest could compromise the probe, expose intelligence assets and endanger informants.
Matibag testified that he created a special NBI task force after assuming office because the bureau determined that the alleged threats against the President had become a national security concern requiring a coordinated, multi-unit investigation.
He said the task force assessed the alleged threats using five protective intelligence factors, including the gravity of the threat, identity of the person making it, capability, motive or intent, and what investigators described as a pattern of violence.
He also testified that the most significant part of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 statement was her claim that she had already spoken to someone who agreed to carry out the killings, distinguishing it from a spontaneous expression of anger and prompting the NBI to continue investigating the identity of the alleged contact.
With Matibag’s testimony concluded, the House prosecution formally rested its evidence on the threats article. (PNA)