NBI Chief Skips Thailand Summit for Impeachment Trial Appearance

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director General Melvin Matibag announced on Thursday that he will no longer be attending a regional summit in Thailand. Matibag cited his mandatory appearance at the impeachment court on Monday, July 20, as the reason for his decision. "Wala na hindi na natin itutuloy. Hindi na tayo pupunta doon," Matibag said. (No, we will not push through with it. We will no longer go.) The NBI had been invited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the regional summit. According to Matibag, FBI Director Kash Patel was expected to attend, and he had received a personal letter from Patel expressing gratitude and congratulations for the NBI's role in the swift return of one of the United States' most wanted fugitives. "Kung maalala niyo, ang NBI nakatuwang ng FBI na ibalik ‘yung one of the most wanted sa US sa mabilis na panahon," he said. (If you recall, the NBI worked together with the FBI to facilitate the swift return of one of the United States’ most wanted fugitives.) "Katunayan, pinadalan pa ko ng personal letter ni Director Kash Patel to extend his gratitude at pag congratulate sa atin. And because of that, mabibigyan sana tayo ng pagkakataon doon sa Bangkok na on the side, magkaroon kami ng face-to-face meeting,” he added. (In fact, Director Kash Patel even sent me a personal letter expressing his gratitude and congratulating us. And because of that, we were supposed to have the opportunity, on the sidelines of the event in Bangkok, to hold a face-to-face meeting.) Matibag expressed regret over the missed opportunity, stating that he had sought to discuss issues, the intelligence network, and further coordination with Patel. "I already communicated to Director Kash Patel that we will just request some other time and some other occasion at saka sa ibang lugar na lang para magawa natin ‘yun,” he said. (I already communicated to Director Kash Patel that we would just request another time and another occasion, and hold the meeting in a different location instead.) This development highlights the delicate balance between domestic political processes and international law enforcement cooperation for high-ranking officials in the Philippines. The NBI chief's need to prioritize a domestic political trial over an international engagement underscores the current political climate in the country.