NBI Dir. Melvin Matibag/ Photo courtesy of PNA.
National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag is set to testify on Tuesday as the Senate Impeachment Court continues hearing the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The proceedings will focus on Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust over her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
The NBI conducted the investigation into the press conference where Duterte made statements about allegedly ordering the killing of the three officials if she were assassinated.
Matibag will be the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV after the House prosecution panel decided to drop eight other witnesses, saying their testimonies would be repetitive and that doing so would help speed up the trial.
His appearance comes after a series of public exchanges with Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano over separate issues involving the NBI.
The siblings earlier criticized Matibag after the bureau announced an investigation into alleged bidding and procurement irregularities linked to the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which Alan Cayetano chaired.
Alan Cayetano also referred to the NBI chief as “the Minion,” a remark Matibag dismissed as a personal attack intended to draw public attention.
Tuesday’s hearing will mark the first time Matibag and Alan Cayetano will face each other publicly since the NBI served an arrest warrant on Sen. Ronald dela Rosa at the Senate in May.