NBI chief: Duterte called Sara ‘bratinella’ first

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testified that it was former President Rodrigo Duterte who first called Vice President Sara Duterte a “bratinella” (spoiled brat), in defense of his opinion columns. The revelation came during the Vice President’s impeachment trial. During cross-examination by defense lawyer Mark Vinluan regarding the NBI chief’s credibility and potential bias, Matibag was shown several editorial pieces he had written. Matibag confirmed authorship and was then asked why he wrote them. He responded that it was the elder Duterte who had called his daughter by that moniker. Vinluan presented articles such as “Inday Sara, The Bratinella” (September 12, 2024), “The Bratinella is a flat spare tire” (October 4, 2024), and “Bratinella Sara and her bad habits” (November 7, 2024), asking Matibag to confirm that he shared opinions against VP Sara in these pieces. Matibag explained that the title “Bratinella” was not his original creation, stating, “I heard it when I was together with former president Duterte, that he called Inday Sara as ‘Bratinella’.” The NBI Director was formerly part of Duterte’s inner circle and political party. Matibag was also once a cabinet secretary under the former president. Past instances of the elder Duterte criticizing his daughters have been documented. In February 2026, Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro reminded the Vice President — after she was seen teary-eyed in Davao City — that her father called her a “drama queen.” The Palace was referring to an INQUIRER story in April 2016, where former president Duterte labeled her daughter a drama queen. The drama queen tag on the Vice President happened after the former president was criticized for making a joke regarding the gang-rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill in 1989 at a Davao City detention center. The older Duterte said it is a pity that the detained criminal suspects got to Hamill first instead of the mayor — him. This prompted reporters to ask Vice President Duterte about her father’s joke. In response, the younger Duterte told reporters on Monday that she too was a rape victim but was not offended by her father’s joke. But former president Duterte does not believe that his daughter was raped, because she always carry a gun with her. Eventually, former president Duterte said that he doubts his daughter’s statement, calling her a “drama queen.” Before Matibag was asked about his column, Vinluan showed a photo of the Tribune’s social media card showing Vice President Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s respective satisfaction ratings. Vinluan asked Matibag if these matters play a part in their decision to investigate Duterte. Matibag said it should not have an impact as these are mere snapshots of the people’s opinion. “You know that is a survey, and and all of us know and for the information of the public, a survey is just a snapshot of something, it doesn’t necessarily follow that this survey is already set in stone. Second, the NBI has a mandate, we cannot be swayed by public opinion or our personal opinion,” Matibag said. Vinluan then said that the reason why he brought up Daily Tribune’s social media card was because Matibag writes for the said paper. “My only question is before you testified today, there were already instances in the past that you shared your public opinions against VP Sara […] let me read one line from your editorial, it says there ‘As Inday Sara is being unmasked in the legislative inquiries and by her own mouth as an ill-bred Bratinella, her public trust crumbles. Do you confirm that you included this statement?” Vinluan asked. “Despite this position and the recent surveys show that VP Sara even gained positive trust rating, as shown earlier positive 57, do you confirm this?” he added. “Well again, I’m saying that when I wrote that, that is my opinion as an opinion writer,” Matibag replied. Matibag is the third and last witness from the prosecution panel for Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, or the allegation that deals with Duterte’s grave threats. Article IV contains Duterte’s threats against Marcos, his wife first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which came during an online briefing last November 23, 2024. As she criticized the House for detaining her chief-of-staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, Duterte was asked by a vlogger to take care as she may be in danger. The vice president replied by urging people not to worry as she has talked to a person about killing the Marcos couple and Romualdez if she herself gets killed. The defense panel has maintained that Duterte’s statements were part of free speech, but several government officials and the prosecution team believe it was a grave threat — regardless of whether or not the vice president executed a contract with an assassin to kill the three. /mr