By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Senate impeachment court has ordered National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag to appear as a witness on July 20, rescheduling his testimony to accommodate an official international commitment while ensuring his participation in the impeachment proceedings.
The subpoena was issued Monday after the House prosecution panel sought to present Matibag as a witness on July 14. The request, however, was opposed by Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, citing the NBI chief’s prior commitment to attend a regional summit on transnational organized crime in Bangkok.
Matibag is scheduled to participate in the Regional Summit on Scam Center Compounds and Transnational Organized Crime, hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Thai Police.
After considering the circumstances, Gatchalian proposed that Matibag instead testify before the impeachment court on Monday, July 20, allowing him to fulfill both his responsibilities in the Senate trial and his international law enforcement engagement.
“I was looking at the letter from the NBI, and indeed the activity in Bangkok is quite important. It is the regional summit on scam center compounds and transnational organized crime,” Gatchalian said during the proceedings.
He added that if the court is unable to complete Matibag’s testimony on July 20, the witness can return after his participation in the Bangkok summit to finish his appearance before the tribunal.
The proposal received the concurrence of both the prosecution and defense panels, prompting Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero to direct the issuance of a subpoena requiring Matibag’s attendance on July 20.
Escudero emphasized that Matibag’s testimony would not be considered complete until the defense is given the opportunity to conduct cross-examination.
He said that should the proceedings remain unfinished on the scheduled date, the NBI chief will be recalled on the next trial day to complete both his direct testimony and cross-examination.
Matibag is expected to testify on matters presented by the House prosecution panel as the Senate impeachment court continues hearing the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
ia/xf
