Defense lawyers on Wednesday, July 8, questioned a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior agent over the absence of affidavits from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the agency’s investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against them.

NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung underwent cross-examination during the third day of Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City, as the impeachment court continued deliberations on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.

Article IV concerns allegations of an “assassination plot, grave threats, and inciting to sedition against the President.”

Counsel for the respondent, lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa, questioned Calilung about the NBI’s revised affidavit of investigation dated Feb. 10, 2025, particularly the documents attached to it.

Narvasa pointed out that the revised affidavit did not include affidavits from journalists who covered or witnessed Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press briefing, during which the Vice President allegedly made statements involving Marcos, the First Lady, and Romualdez.

Calilung confirmed that the affidavits of two journalists were not attached to the revised affidavit of investigation. He explained that he instead executed an affidavit attesting to the minutes of the journalists’ interviews.

The defense also questioned the NBI agent over the absence of affidavits from the alleged offended parties in the grave threats case.

Calilung acknowledged that the affidavits of Marcos, Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez were not attached to the NBI’s revised affidavit of investigation.

Calilung further said he had no personal knowledge of whether the three officials had filed criminal complaints against Duterte in connection with the alleged threats.

The defense maintained that none of the three alleged offended parties appeared before the NBI during its investigation.

At one point, Narvasa asked Calilung: “Did you really investigate this case?”

The prosecution objected to the question, prompting the defense counsel to withdraw it.

During cross-examination, Narvasa also presented Calilung with documents involving Maxcor Inter-ventures Co., which the NBI agent had earlier identified as a forensic software provider that handled his training.

The defense also played selected portions of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press briefing, rather than the full two-hour-and-26-minute recording.

Parts of the video also showed former Office of the Vice President chief of staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez speaking about her planned transfer to the Women’s Correctional Facility. Lopez questioned the transfer, saying she was not a criminal and raised concerns over her safety.

Calilung told the impeachment court that the NBI conducted a motu proprio investigation, or one initiated by the agency on its own.

He said the NBI complied with the Department of Justice’s requirements and obtained a second certification indicating that its submitted documents were sufficient for preliminary investigation.

The Senate impeachment court is continuing its examination of evidence and witness testimony related to Article IV, which focuses on allegations that Duterte issued grave threats against Marcos, Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez.