Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Matibag testifies, VP in The Hague

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its eighth day with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testifying. Matibag presented his testimony regarding the alleged grave threat and assassination plot against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family. During the cross-examination, defense counsels rigorously questioned the credibility and potential bias of Matibag’s testimony against Duterte. They specifically challenged the "hearsay" nature of Matibag’s account of the NBI’s investigation, which began in November 2024, pointing out that Matibag himself only assumed his position in February 2024 and lacked personal knowledge of the probe. Furthermore, the defense highlighted that Matibag’s wife, Laguna 1st District Representative Ann Matibag, was among the endorsers of the House resolution outlining the impeachment articles against Duterte. Matibag stated that his wife's endorsement and his official duties were separate. In response to allegations of betrayal of public trust, the defense presented a recent Social Weather Survey showing an increase in Duterte’s trust ratings. Matibag countered that surveys are merely "snapshots" and that the NBI, in its mandate, including conducting investigations, could not be "swayed by public opinion or personal opinions." Matibag’s past opinion columns, which reportedly criticized Duterte, were also presented. The defense requested to continue their cross-examination of Matibag on Wednesday, June 22, citing new documents such as the statement of alleged DDS hitman Arturo Lascanas. The court approved their request. The defense expressed satisfaction with their progress during the cross-examination. On the prosecution side, they stated that a written dissent by a senator-judge would not overturn the Senate impeachment court's ruling to issue subpoenas for Duterte's bank records. Lead Prosecutor Gerville Luistro called Matibag as the final witness for the article of impeachment detailing grave threats against Marcos. Matibag revealed that the NBI considered the possibility of a conspiracy between Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte due to similar remarks about wanting the president’s head. He asserted that a threat to Marcos’ life constitutes a threat to national security and that Duterte’s remarks were no longer a threat but a “confession.” The NBI director also mentioned that persons of interest were identified in connection to an individual allegedly hired by Duterte to kill Marcos and others if she dies, but declined to disclose their names. The NBI also looked into the affidavit of former Davao senior police officer Arturo Lascañas to the ICC, which mentioned Duterte, though Senator Pia Cayetano criticized the document for not being notarized. The impeachment court's presiding officer, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, admonished Matibag to refrain from making statements directed towards particular senator-judges. Escudero also announced an adjusted trial schedule: no trial on July 27 (for the President’s SONA) and July 28 (for the minority bloc’s “Kontra-SONA”), with the trial resuming on July 29. Starting in August, trials will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday to Wednesday. Meanwhile, it was disclosed that Vice President Duterte is currently in The Hague after securing travel authority from the government. Source: GMA News Philippines