House prosecutors say NBI chief’s testimony will focus solely on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The House prosecution panel distanced itself from the ongoing dispute between National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag and several senator-judges, stressing that its sole concern is the NBI chief’s testimony on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the panel has no intention of intervening in issues involving Matibag and members of the Senate impeachment court, emphasizing that the NBI director was summoned exclusively to discuss the bureau’s investigation into the Vice President’s alleged death threats.
Matibag is the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez during an online press briefing on Nov. 23, 2024.
“We expect that Director Matibag will present before the impeachment court the findings of the NBI’s preliminary investigation based on his knowledge of the case,” Adiong said during a press briefing.
He stressed that any personal or institutional conflict involving Matibag and senator-judges falls outside the prosecution panel’s responsibilities.
Lead prosecution counsel Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. echoed the same position, saying the panel would leave it to Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero to determine which questions raised by senator-judges are relevant and appropriate during the proceedings.
Tolosa emphasized that the prosecution remains focused on presenting material evidence concerning the NBI investigation into the alleged grave threats attributed to Duterte.
The issue resurfaced following renewed tensions between Matibag and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who accused the NBI chief of using the bureau’s ongoing investigation into the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to pressure him ahead of Matibag’s appearance before the impeachment court.
The conflict traces back to May 2026, when gunshots were fired inside the Senate complex shortly after Cayetano assumed the Senate presidency. Cayetano claimed the warning shots were directed at alleged NBI agents inside the Senate premises, an accusation Matibag denied, maintaining that NBI personnel were stationed at the adjacent Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building rather than inside the Senate.
Subsequent police findings described the response of then Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Ma. O Aplasca as excessive. The Office of the Ombudsman later dismissed Aplasca for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
The controversy intensified after Matibag disclosed that the NBI was investigating alleged irregularities in the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. While Cayetano headed the organizing committee for the event, Matibag clarified that the senator was not initially among those under investigation, although he acknowledged that Cayetano could still be subpoenaed should former Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) officials identify him as relevant to the probe.
With Matibag set to conclude the prosecution’s presentation for Article IV, the impeachment trial is expected to move next to Article I, which accuses Duterte of allegedly misusing confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
ia/xf
