NBI Chief's Testimony in VP Duterte Impeachment Trial Draws Focus

MANILA, Philippines — Director Melvin Matibag of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to take the stand on Tuesday, drawing significant attention at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The NBI is expected to present the full findings of its probe into allegations that Duterte made threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. "We don’t know what will happen when Director Matibag takes the stand. But, of course, our focus is to let him speak his truth, particularly on the whole comprehensive investigation that the NBI did," said Rep. Terry Ridon during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City. This statement came in response to a question about whether senator-judges could raise objections or matters unrelated to the impeachment case during Matibag's testimony before the Senate impeachment court. The impeachment article stems from Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference, where she stated she had instructed someone to kill President Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, should she herself be killed. The NBI investigated these remarks and recommended the filing of criminal charges for grave threats and inciting to sedition. According to Ridon, Matibag is expected to present the results of the NBI’s overall investigation, including whether authorities found indications that the alleged threats against the president and his family remain ongoing. "Basically, he’s giving the full report on the NBI investigation into the threats made by the vice president and whether there exist continuing threats by the vice president on the president and his family," Ridon explained. So far, the impeachment court has only heard testimonies from the NBI’s Cybercrime Division, through the testimonies of Senior Agent John Mark Calilung and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc. Matibag is expected to provide a broader account of the investigation by discussing the work of other NBI offices that participated in the probe. Ridon declined to elaborate on what he had earlier described as a "potentially explosive testimony." "If I tell you that now, it won’t be explosive anymore. So let’s just wait for the testimony of Director Matibag," he said. Ridon stated that the prosecution would leave it to the senator-judges to decide whether to address issues outside the impeachment complaint during Matibag’s appearance. "As to what the senator-judges would do on extraneous matters not related to the impeachment, we leave it to them. After all, they also have the right to raise various issues here in our hearing," he added. Matibag is anticipated to be the prosecution’s final witness on the impeachment article accusing Duterte of grave threats, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust. The House prosecution has indicated it will present evidence on the article involving Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds after his testimony. /atm