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Matibag to tie loose ends in death threats claim vs VP Duterte--prosecution team
Philippines
National
Matibag to tie loose ends in death threats claim vs VP Duterte--prosecution team
Matibag to tie loose ends in death threats claim vs VP Duterte--prosecution team
Published Jul 20, 2026 03:53 pm
At A Glance
- NBI Director Melvin Matibag is set to testify as the prosecution's final witness on Article IV, addressing unanswered questions about Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged death threats.
- Prosecutors emphasize that the case centers on Duterte's public threats, which they argue already constitute an impeachable offense, regardless of whether an assassin or murder plot existed.
- Lawmakers and prosecutors expect Matibag to clarify the NBI's comprehensive investigation and determine if continuing threats against President Marcos and his family remain.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag (Facebook)
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is expected to tie loose ends, so to speak, as the prosecution panel's final witness on the allegation of death threats and inciting to sedition against impeachment trial respondent Vice President Sara Duterte.
The House prosecution panel expressed this stand ahead of Matibag’s appearance as its final witness for article IV of the articles of impeachment on Tuesday, July, 21.
"Our last witness that we will present tomorrow will be Director Matibag para masagot at matahi 'yung mga hanging questions na tinanong in the previous two weeks," prosecution panel spokesperson Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said on Monday, July 20
(Our last witness that we will present tomorrow will be Director Matibag to answer and connect the hanging questions raised in the previous two weeks.)
The NBI, which produced two other witnesses in Senior Agent John Mark Calilung and Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, was the main agency that looked into Duterte’s infamous "death threat video" against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Calilung authenticated the recordings that contained Duterte’s statements and establish the handling of the digital evidence, while Lotoc subsequently testified about the cybercrime division’s investigation and its findings concerning the recorded remarks.
Adiong said Matibag will address matters that could not be fully answered by her first two witnesses whose knowledge was limited to their respective units and functions.
“So ito ang magiging baga finale nitong article IV, ang presentasyon ng House Prosecution Panel kay Director Matibag at ang pagbibigay niya ng information, facts surrounding the preliminary investigation conducted by the NBI,” he stressed.
(So this will be the grand finale of article IV, the presentation of the House Prosecution Panel with Director Matibag and his providing of information, facts surrounding the preliminary investigation conducted by the NBI.)
“We would expect him to inform the court or appraise the court based on the knowledge that he has surrounding the preliminary investigation,” Adiong added of Matibag.
Private prosecutor and legal spokesperson lawyer Benjamin "Jay" Tolosa Jr. echoed Adiong's statements.
"Siya po (Matibag) ang makakapagbigay na linaw tungkol sa masusing investigation na ginawa ng NBI patungkol dito sa mamamatay-tao na kinausap ng Bise Presidente,” Tolosa said over the weekend.
(He [Matibag] will be the one to provide clarity on the thorough investigation conducted by the NBI regarding the assassin that the Vice President spoke to.)
Impeachable offense
However, the private prosecutor stressed that the prosecution’s article IV case on alleged grave threats does not hinge on proving that an assassin actually existed or that a murder plot had been carried out.
Instead, he said the impeachment charge centers on Duterte’s alleged public threats, which the prosecution argues already constitute an impeachable offense.
“Importante na mayroon na siyang ginawang pagbabanta na labag sa batas at ‘yung sinabi niyang gagawin niya ay isang masamang bagay na labag sa batas at naproduce ang effect na gusto niya na makapagtakot doon sa mga taong pinagbabantaan niya,” Tolosa said.
(It is important because she already made a threat that is against the law, and what she said she would do is something unlawful and harmful, which produced the intended effect of instilling fear in the people she threatened.)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon---one of the 11 solon-prosecutors who are out to get a conviction on the Vice President--says Matibag has a "truth" that must be exposed in court.
“Hindi po namin alam kung ano po ’yung mangyayari doon sa pagsalang ni Director Matibag. Pero siyempre ang focus talaga namin is to let him speak his truth, particularly on ’yung kabuuang komprehensibong investigation na ginawa po ng NBI,” Ridon said.
(We do not know what will happen during Director Matibag’s appearance. But of course our focus is to let him speak his truth, particularly on the comprehensive investigation conducted by the NBI.)
“Basically, he will complete the NBI’s investigation on the threats made by the Vice President and whether there are continuing threats by the Vice President against the President and his family,” he said of Matibag.