Escudero says issues involving Matibag and members of the impeachment court should be addressed outside the trial
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday issued a formal warning to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, urging him to refrain from making public statements involving senator-judges while the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is underway.
Before Matibag began his testimony, Senate President and Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero reminded the NBI chief that comments directed at members of the impeachment court could raise questions about the tribunal’s impartiality and independence.
Escudero stressed that while the NBI is free to pursue investigations within its mandate, officials should avoid public pronouncements that could be interpreted as influencing or putting pressure on senator-judges.
The warning followed recent tensions between Matibag and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano after the NBI chief announced an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Alan Cayetano, who chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), criticized the timing of the announcement, arguing that publicizing the probe while the impeachment proceedings are ongoing could undermine the integrity of the Senate tribunal.
Escudero clarified that complaints arising from the exchange between Matibag and the Cayetano siblings would not be resolved by the impeachment court.
Instead, he directed that the matter be referred to the Senate, acting in its legislative capacity, for appropriate action by the Committee on Rules.
The presiding officer emphasized that any investigation involving the NBI should proceed independently, but without public statements that could affect confidence in the impeachment process.
Following the admonition, Matibag proceeded to testify as the prosecution’s final witness on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns allegations that Vice President Duterte made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
ia/xf
