Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Key Witnesses Summoned

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel on Tuesday, July 7, asked the Senate impeachment court to summon Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag to testify in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. At a press conference on Tuesday, July 7, Rep. Terry Ridon, one of the spokespersons for the House prosecution team, confirmed that subpoenas had been issued to Lopez and Matibag. The prosecution panel asked the pair to testify from July 13 to 15 at 2 p.m. The House prosecution team said the testimonies of both individuals are material, relevant and necessary to substantiate the allegations detailed in Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte. This article focuses on the alleged grave threats and assassination plot involving the vice president against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte made the controversial remarks during a late-night Zoom press conference in November 2024 while Lopez, her longtime aide, was being detained after being cited in contempt. For the grave threats charge under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, the House prosecution team said it has allotted 11 days to present its case. On the first day, NBI Agent John Mark Calilung took the witness stand and was asked about the events that unfolded in November 2024, when Duterte allegedly made the threats. Defense counsel Carlo Narvasa raised a motion to exclude Calilung from the proceedings, arguing that he was not listed as a witness in the Saballa and Cabrera impeachment complaint. However, the motion was rejected by impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero. He cited a Supreme Court ruling stating that prosecutors may present or rely on evidence not specifically identified in the complaint or the Articles of Impeachment, as only a summary of the evidence is required.