VP Sara's 'Tokhang' Role, Sheriff Punching Cited as 'Pattern of Violence' in Impeachment Trial

During an impeachment trial in the Philippines, prosecutors presented evidence pointing to a "pattern of violence" by Vice President Sara Duterte, citing her alleged involvement in the "tokhang" anti-drug campaign and a past incident where she punched a court sheriff. These actions were presented in connection with Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which alleges grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, testifying as the prosecution's final witness for Article IV, stated that the agency considers the alleged death threats made by the Vice President a national security matter. Under continuing objection from the defense, the prosecution sought to introduce portions of an affidavit supposedly submitted by self-confessed hitman Arturo Lascañas to the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte. The NBI official read from the document, which implicated Sara Duterte in the implementation of tokhang during her term as mayor, allegedly ordering then-Davao City police director Ronald dela Rosa to kidnap drug personalities and other criminals and bury them in a quarry. The document claimed Dela Rosa told Lascañas that Sara Duterte did not want targets killed in public to avoid media attention. The defense counsel objected, calling the document "just a scrap of paper" as it was unsigned and un-notarized, and arguing the witness was not competent to testify on it. Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro countered that the ICC does not require notarization of affidavits, but presiding officer Senator-Judge Chiz Escudero clarified that the impeachment court is not the ICC. Escudero allowed Matibag to testify based on the document but not as to the truth of its content. The prosecution also played a video showing Sara Duterte punching a sheriff in 2011 who refused her request to defer the execution of a demolition order. Furthermore, a video of Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, her brother, stating "We only need one head, the president's head" during a rally on April 12 was presented. Matibag noted the similarity in threats coming from "one family." In a statement on Tuesday, July 21, the eighth day of the trial, the Office of the Vice President announced her departure for an "overseas trip" with stops in Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The statement specified that the itinerary includes official foreign travel and personal engagements, with no government funds to be used. These activities are intended to engage with overseas Filipinos and advance the Philippines' interests abroad. Source: MindaNews Philippines (GN)