Sara Duterte impeachment trial: NBI Director to testify as prosecution nears end of evidence presentation

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is expected to testify on the eighth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, serving as the final witness in the House prosecution panel’s presentation of evidence on Article IV. Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte concerns her alleged assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as allegations that she incited sedition through her public statements. “So ito po ‘yung magiging finale nitong Article IV, ang presentasyon ng House prosecution panel kay Director Matibag at ang pagbibigay po niya ng information, facts surrounding this preliminary investigation conducted by the NBI,” House prosecution spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said Monday. (So this will be the finale of the presentation on Article IV, with the House prosecution panel presenting Director Matibag, who will provide information and facts surrounding the preliminary investigation conducted by the NBI.) Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr., House prosecution legal spokesperson, earlier said the NBI director is expected to shed light on the bureau’s investigation into Duterte’s alleged death threat against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “Lagi niya hong sinasabi [na] ang makakasagot diyan ay ‘yung intelligence service na, so diyan ho papasok si NBI Director Melvin Matibag,” Tolosa said, referring to the testimony of NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc. ([Lotoc] repeatedly said that the intelligence service would be able to answer that, so that is where NBI Director Melvin Matibag comes in.) On Monday, Tolosa said Matibag’s testimony would not only corroborate those of NBI Special Agent John Mark Calilung and Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc but would also provide the impeachment court with new information. The House prosecutors also said they would leave it to Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero to determine which questions may be properly asked during Matibag’s testimony. Adiong said the prosecution expects Matibag to answer the questions based on his personal knowledge of the NBI investigation.— MCG, GMA News