IN BRIEF: NBI chief says Duterte's 'threats' vs Marcos were more 'plans' than warnings on impeachment trial Day 8

Matibag testified to forming a special task force, under Administrative Order 11, mandated to investigate the statements pertaining to grave threat and inciting to sedition allegedly made by Duterte on video in separate events in 2024, and the threats she allegedly made against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.  

Members of the task force included officials, divisions, and personnel from the NBI's National Capital Region branch, Cybercrime Division, Organized Transnational Crime Division, Technical Intelligence Division, and the Digital Forensic Laboratory. 

Sara, Baste Duterte's separate videos played

To establish the justification of the forming of a special task force to investigate the alleged threats against the Marcoses, the prosecution played one video clip showing Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte and two others of a press conference held by the VP. 

In the clip of Baste's speech on April 12, 2026, during the grand launch of Reform Alliance for Good Governance, the Davao City mayor was heard saying, "Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin: Ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos."

The NBI compared the statement to the one uttered by the VP during a press conference on Oct. 18, 2024, where she said, "Gusto kong tanggalin 'yung ulo niya ba," apparently referring to Marcos. 

Matibag then mentioned the VP's Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference where she said she had already spoken to an individual to kill the President, First Lady, and Former Speaker if she, the vice president, were killed. 

"Hindi na ito isang banta kundi isang plano," Matibag said. 

Matibag: 'A threat to the president is a threat to national security'

Consistent with the protective intelligence methodology applied by the US Secret Service, the NBI used five parameters in the investigation carried out by its special task force. The bureau considered the pattern of violence, gravity of the incident, identifying characteristics of the subject, the capacity of the subject to carry out the threat, and the presence of motive and intent. 

To establish the pattern of violence, the prosecution showed a video of then Davao Mayor Sara Duterte punching the head of a court sheriff Abe Andres in July 2011 during a tense demolition operation in Barangay Soliman, Davao City. 

Matibag also read some parts of the affidavit of Arturo Lascañas, a former member of the Davao Death Squad. Talking about Oplan Tokhang, the Duterte administration's so-called war on drugs, Lascañas said the VP allegedly suggested that instead of shooting the Tokhang victims, which would just invite more questions from the media, they were to just kidnap the victims and bury them in a quarry. 

Videos of Duterte uttering her threat against Marcos in 2024 on Oct. 18, Nov. 23, and Nov. 26 were played to prove the gravity of her statements. 

"Hindi na ito talaga banta kundi isa na pong confession ng kanyang plano sa pagpatay sa ating pangulo," Matibag said of her "threats." Later on, he added that a threat against the President is tantamount to a threat against national security. 

Persons of interest 

According to Matibag, the NBI has established persons of interest who can identify or share information about the identity of the person Duterte allegedly contracted to kill the Marcoses. Matibag said they may or may not necessarily be the actual individual in question.

Despite Luistro saying the senator-judges were eager to learn of the identities of the persons of interest, Matibag respectfully declined to share their names, saying they were part of the NBI's continuing and open investigation. 

"Kahit dumating 'yung punto na matukoy na natin kung sino 'yung kinausap [ni Duterte], we have the right to protect 'yung aming mga informants. Sapagkat ang pinoprotektahan din po namin dito ay 'yung institusyon ng NBI," Matibag said. 

A question on hearsay

During defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan's cross-examination of Matibag, he established how the NBI director was not present at the NBI Cybercrime Division on Nov. 29, 2024 when at least 10 members of the press were subpoenaed in connection to the Nov. 23, 2024 virtual press conference held by Duterte. The media practitioners were supposedly present during the press conference. Vinluan also confirmed with Matibag that the latter did not attend the online press conference on Nov. 23, 2024. 

Matibag was appointed to his directorship position only on Feb. 20, 2026. 

With Matibag merely basing his information about the early investigation on records, Vinluan then characterized his testimony as "hearsay," roughly translating it to "tsismis."

"Kung wala kang personal knowledge, tsismis lang 'yon, tama?" Vinluan asked. 

"Hindi ko naman po naririnig sa korte, ako'y nagpraktis din. Kahit minsan hindi ko narinig na ang 'hearsay' ginamit ang salitang 'tsismis'," Matibag replied. 

Matibag: 'Yes, my wife is one of the endorsers of the impeachment'

Matibag was shown the signature page of House Resolution 989, which set forth the articles of impeachment against Duterte. One of the signatories appeared to be Matibag's wife, Laguna 1st District Rep. Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag. 

"Despite that spousal relationship that you admitted, you decided to appear and testify today, correct?" Vinluan asked.

Matibag said his decision to be a witness was based on the subpoena issued by the court and the invitation from the Committee on Justice of the prosecution. 

"However, the job of my wife as a legislator is totally detached from me being the director of the National Bureau of Investigation," Matibag added. 

Tulfo: 'Hindi patas ang NBI?'

In his interjection, senator-judge Raffy Tulfo recalled the warrantless arrest by the NBI of Zambales public school teacher Ronnel Mas in 2020 for offering a P50-million reward to anyone who would assassinate then-president Rodrigo Duterte.

"So isang guro, nagbanta sa dating pangulo, agad-agad inaresto nang walang warrant," said Tulfo. "Now, itong si Vice President Sara Duterte na nagbanta rin kay Pangulong Marcos, anu'ng difference ng dalawa?"

"Ang pagkakaiba po nila, si Ronnel Mas ay isang guro. Si Vice President ay isa naman pong vice president, at siguro po ito ang naging konsiderasyon kung bakit hindi siya inaresto agad," Matibag said. 

"So, ibig sabihin, ang NBI pala ay tumitingin sa special treatment? So, ibig sabihin, hindi pala patas ang NBI?" Tulfo asked. 

Matibag said the mayor's threat was included in the NBI's continuing threat assessment. He also explained that the Bureau wanted to avoid its error of performing a warrantless arrest against Mas, which led to the dismissal of his case. 

Before adjourning for the day, Escudero announced changes in the trial schedule. It would resume Wednesday, July 29, to give way to Marcos' fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27 and the Senate minority's Contra-SONA delivery the next day. 

On July 29, the trial will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The same schedule will apply from August onwards: Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The July 21 trial was adjourned at 6:53 p.m. The defense's cross-examination of Matibag is set to be continued on July 22, Wednesday. 

Duterte impeachment trial

Duterte is facing a total of four impeachment complaints. The first complaint was filed by a coalition of various organizations on Feb. 2, but was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule. The second was filed on Feb. 9, but was withdrawn to consolidate support for the third complaint.

The third complaint, backed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, charged Duterte with culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The fourth complaint, endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, similarly alleged constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other impeachable offenses.

The Senate impeachment court has approved a 92-day trial as of writing. Sixty-two trial dates have been set for House of Representatives prosecutors and 30 for Duterte's defense team, per a 14-page Pre-Trial Order obtained by The Philippine STAR.

The articles of impeachment are being presented in the following order: fourth article, first article, third article, and second article.

If the Senate impeachment court finds her guilty of the charges, Duterte will be removed from her current post and permanently barred from holding public office.