NBI Director to Testify on Probe into VP Sara Duterte's Alleged 'Kill' Threat

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is expected to shed light on the agency’s probe into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged death threat against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., when he testifies before the impeachment court on Tuesday, the prosecution panel said Sunday. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Atty. Benjamin Tolosa said Matibag is expected to provide key details that the first two witnesses could not cover due to the limited scope of their work. “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. “Siya ho ang makakapagbigay-linaw tungkol sa kung ano ang masusing imbestigasyon na ginawa ng NBI patungkol dito sa mamamatay-tao na kinausap ng bise presidente,” he added. Tolosa also argued that the article of impeachment accusing Duterte of making grave threats against the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez could be supported by her own statements and her refusal to retract the alleged threat. “Meron ba talagang kinausap na mamamatay-tao?... Napakaliwanag na po ng sagot diyan, meron. Ano ho ang pruweba natin? ‘Yung tinatawag na admission against interest ng bise presidente, sa kanya na po nanggaling ‘yan,” Tolosa said. Tolosa said an admission against interest is among the strongest forms of evidence under the Rules of Court because it comes directly from the person against whom it is being used. “Lalo na dito, binigyan siya ng pagkakataon, three days after, para bawiin ito… pero hindi ho niya binawi yon. In fact, lalo pa niya hong diniin na talagang meron pero tinry ho lang niyang i-justify ‘yan by saying wala namang criminal act na revenge from the grave,” he said. Asked about the possibility that some senator-judges could question Matibag over the NBI’s separate investigation into alleged anomalies surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Tolosa expressed confidence that the presiding officer would ensure that the proceedings remain focused on the impeachment case. “At the end of the day, umaasa pa rin kami na tatalima pa rin ang mga senator-judges doon ho sa requirements under their own rules, not to unduly discriminate against anyone,” Tolosa said. On July 15, the NBI announced plans to create a task force to investigate alleged anomalies in the bidding and funding of projects related to the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano served as chairperson of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), which organized the country’s hosting of the regional sporting event. The NBI investigation has drawn scrutiny from Cayetano and Senators Pia Cayetano and Robin Padilla, who questioned its timing amid the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte.— MCG, GMA News