National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag will be the House prosecution panel’s final witness on the impeachment charge accusing Vice President Sara Duterte of issuing grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro made the announcement Wednesday during the sixth day of Duterte’s Senate impeachment trial, as the panel formally withdrew six more witnesses from its lineup.
“This withdrawal, Your Honor, renders Atty. Melvin Matibag, the NBI Director, as our last witness for threat, who will be testifying this coming Tuesday,” Luistro told the impeachment court. Matibag is scheduled to testify on July 21.
The fourth impeachment article accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and high crimes over her Nov. 23, 2024 statement that she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, the First Lady and Romualdez if she were killed.
NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung earlier authenticated the video containing Duterte’s remarks through digital forensic examination, while NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc testified that the bureau found probable cause to recommend criminal charges over the alleged threats.
Luistro said the remaining witnesses were dropped because their testimonies had become redundant or unnecessary in light of the evidence already presented.
The withdrawn witnesses include a representative from the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, journalists Mikhail Flores and Bonz Magsambol, Sheriff Abe Andres, a relative of one of the alleged threat targets and a psychiatrist.
According to Luistro, the PNP witness was no longer needed because the prosecution had already established that authorities treated Duterte’s remarks seriously and launched a full-scale investigation that led to a recommendation to file a criminal complaint.
The two journalists were also withdrawn after Calilung authenticated the video and the defense admitted its authenticity.
The prosecution likewise dropped Andres after both sides acknowledged the 2011 incident in which Duterte allegedly punched him during a demolition operation.
Luistro said the testimonies of the relative and the psychiatrist were no longer necessary because the prosecution had sufficiently established the context and impact of Duterte’s statements.
After Matibag’s testimony, the prosecution is expected to move to the impeachment article alleging Duterte’s misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.