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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Will Matibag get grilled on non-impeachment matters? It's up to senator-judges, says prosecutor

Will Matibag get grilled on non-impeachment matters? It's up to senator-judges, says prosecutor

Published Jul 20, 2026 09:05 am  |  Updated Jul 20, 2026 03:16 pm

At A Glance

  • The prosecution panel says senator-judges will decide how to handle issues when NBI Director Melvin Matibag testifies against VP Sara Duterte.
  • Matibag is the final witness on charges tied to Duterte's 2024 press conference admitting she tapped an assassin.
  • Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano criticize Matibag over the 2019 SEA Games inquiry and the May 13 Senate shooting.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag (Facebook)
NBI Director Melvin Matibag (Facebook)


Thr House prosecution panel will let the senator-judges handle their business with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag when appears before the Senate impeachment court to testify against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Solon-prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon had this to say over the weekend as anticipation grows for Matibag's expected testimony on Tuesday, July 21.
Ridon said the prosecution would leave it to the senator-judges to decide whether or not to take up issues outside the impeachment complaint during Matibag’s appearance.
“As to kung ano ’yung gagawin ng senator-judges on extraneous matters not related to the impeachment, we leave it to them. Kasi meron naman din silang karapatan na mag-raise ng iba’t ibang usapin dito sa amin pong pagdinig,” he said.
(As to what the senator-judges will do on extraneous matters not related to the impeachment, we leave it to them. Because they also have the right to raise various issues during our hearing.)
Matibag is to be the prosecution’s third and final witness on the impeachment article accusing Duterte of grave threats, culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
This is in connection with the respondent's infamous Nov. 23, 2024 virtual press conference wherein she admitted to tapping an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
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 the "death threat video".
Some senator-judges have been eager to hear from Matibag, but not because of his testimony. During trial last week, Senator-siblings Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano blasted Matibag for announcing an inquiry into the conduct and financing of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
The 2019 SEAG, held in the country, was organized by Senator Alan Peter as then-chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
He framed Matibag's remarks as an attempt to create a chilling effect among the senator-judges ahead of their verdict on Duterte.
Tuesday will also be the first time that senators will get to face Matibag over the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate, which occured as authorities tried to arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.
The Cayetanos had earlier assailed the NBI chief over this incident.

Related Tags

SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES Alan Peter Cayetano Pia Cayetano Terry Ridon Impeachment Sara Duterte senator-judges
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