NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Matibag: NBI Saw Alleged Threats Against Marcos as National Security Issue
PHOTO CREDIT: SENATE PH
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag told the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday that the bureau created a special task force after determining that the alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had evolved into what investigators considered a "serious, active and continuing" national security concern.
Taking the witness stand as the House prosecution's final witness under Article IV of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Matibag testified that the NBI continues to investigate Duterte over the alleged threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
"Ang ating Vice President ay kasalukuyang subject sa ating continuing investigation doon po sa pagbabanta at planong pagpatay po sa ating Pangulo, sa First Lady at sa dating Speaker of the House," Matibag told the impeachment court.
Lead House prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro asked what actions the bureau took after launching its investigation.
"Tayo po ay nagtatag ng tinatawag na Special Task Force sa pamamagitan ng pag-create po ng isang administrative order, kung saan bumalangkas tayo ng mga miyembro ng aming opisina para sila ang magtuloy ng investigation at mag-monitor ng kailangang gawin," Matibag replied.
According to Matibag, the NBI no longer viewed the case as an ordinary criminal investigation.
"Napakahalaga po para sa amin sapagkat, from our law-enforcement perspective, ang ginawa pong banta ng Vice President ay tinatrato na naming hindi banta kundi isang plano para po sa pagpatay sa ating Pangulo. And that is a threat to the President which we consider also na threat din po sa ating national security," he testified.
He added that any threat against the President could destabilize the government and pose risks to the country's security.
"Anumang banta sa ating Pangulo ay banta sa seguridad ng ating bansa sapagkat ito ay magdudulot ng kaguluhan, ligalig at destabilization po sa ating gobyerno at sa ating bansa."
Matibag said the Special Task Force was established through NBI Administrative Order No. 11, issued on April 16, 2026. The order brought together investigators from the bureau's regional offices, Cybercrime Division, Intelligence Service, Digital Forensic Division, and Transnational Crime Division to coordinate intelligence gathering, surveillance, digital evidence examination, and threat monitoring.
He explained that the task force was instructed to provide regular updates to the Office of the Director while continuously monitoring information that could require immediate law enforcement action.
During his testimony, Matibag said the task force was formed not only because of the Vice President's public statements but also because of other incidents that, taken together, strengthened the bureau's threat assessment.
Among them was the April 12, 2026 RAGE Coalition rally, where Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte allegedly declared, "Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin, at iyan ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos."
"Kung makikita po ninyo sa whereas clauses ng Administrative Order No. 11, ang isa pong nagpatibay dito ay ang aming napanood na live broadcast ng isang rally na tinatawag na RAGE Coalition," Matibag testified.
He added that the mayor's statement became one of the factors considered in creating the special task force.
"If I remember it correctly, April 12, na nagsasalita ang Mayor ng Davao City na si Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte na sinabi niya na, 'Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin, at iyan ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos.' Iyan po ang aming isinama sa aming factor upang buuin itong Administrative Order No. 11," he said.
The prosecution later presented video clips before the impeachment court showing the RAGE Coalition rally as well as portions of Vice President Duterte's Oct. 18, 2024 press conference.
The videos included the Vice President's statements, "Gusto kong tanggalin 'yung ulo niya," and "I imagined myself cutting his head."
When prosecutors asked whose head the Vice President was referring to, Senate President and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero directed the prosecution to move on.
"The court understands and knows who the Vice President was referring to in that video," Escudero said.
Defense lawyers repeatedly objected to linking the video clips to the prosecution's line of questioning, arguing that the questions were vague and irrelevant. They also sought to strike portions of Matibag's testimony from the record.
Escudero denied the request.
"The objection is overruled, and the motion to strike is denied. Let it remain in the records for the appreciation of the senator-judges as to the weight they will give that particular part of the witness' testimony," he ruled.
The presiding officer also clarified that Matibag was not yet serving as NBI director during the bureau's earlier investigation into the alleged threats. However, Escudero said Matibag could testify about the agency's investigation and the subsequent creation of the special task force based on official records.
Matibag maintained that the bureau's assessment had evolved as investigators gathered more information.
Taking the witness stand as the House prosecution's final witness under Article IV of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Matibag testified that the NBI continues to investigate Duterte over the alleged threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
"Ang ating Vice President ay kasalukuyang subject sa ating continuing investigation doon po sa pagbabanta at planong pagpatay po sa ating Pangulo, sa First Lady at sa dating Speaker of the House," Matibag told the impeachment court.
Lead House prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro asked what actions the bureau took after launching its investigation.
"Tayo po ay nagtatag ng tinatawag na Special Task Force sa pamamagitan ng pag-create po ng isang administrative order, kung saan bumalangkas tayo ng mga miyembro ng aming opisina para sila ang magtuloy ng investigation at mag-monitor ng kailangang gawin," Matibag replied.
According to Matibag, the NBI no longer viewed the case as an ordinary criminal investigation.
"Napakahalaga po para sa amin sapagkat, from our law-enforcement perspective, ang ginawa pong banta ng Vice President ay tinatrato na naming hindi banta kundi isang plano para po sa pagpatay sa ating Pangulo. And that is a threat to the President which we consider also na threat din po sa ating national security," he testified.
He added that any threat against the President could destabilize the government and pose risks to the country's security.
"Anumang banta sa ating Pangulo ay banta sa seguridad ng ating bansa sapagkat ito ay magdudulot ng kaguluhan, ligalig at destabilization po sa ating gobyerno at sa ating bansa."
Matibag said the Special Task Force was established through NBI Administrative Order No. 11, issued on April 16, 2026. The order brought together investigators from the bureau's regional offices, Cybercrime Division, Intelligence Service, Digital Forensic Division, and Transnational Crime Division to coordinate intelligence gathering, surveillance, digital evidence examination, and threat monitoring.
He explained that the task force was instructed to provide regular updates to the Office of the Director while continuously monitoring information that could require immediate law enforcement action.
During his testimony, Matibag said the task force was formed not only because of the Vice President's public statements but also because of other incidents that, taken together, strengthened the bureau's threat assessment.
Among them was the April 12, 2026 RAGE Coalition rally, where Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte allegedly declared, "Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin, at iyan ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos."
"Kung makikita po ninyo sa whereas clauses ng Administrative Order No. 11, ang isa pong nagpatibay dito ay ang aming napanood na live broadcast ng isang rally na tinatawag na RAGE Coalition," Matibag testified.
He added that the mayor's statement became one of the factors considered in creating the special task force.
"If I remember it correctly, April 12, na nagsasalita ang Mayor ng Davao City na si Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte na sinabi niya na, 'Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin, at iyan ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos.' Iyan po ang aming isinama sa aming factor upang buuin itong Administrative Order No. 11," he said.
The prosecution later presented video clips before the impeachment court showing the RAGE Coalition rally as well as portions of Vice President Duterte's Oct. 18, 2024 press conference.
The videos included the Vice President's statements, "Gusto kong tanggalin 'yung ulo niya," and "I imagined myself cutting his head."
When prosecutors asked whose head the Vice President was referring to, Senate President and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero directed the prosecution to move on.
"The court understands and knows who the Vice President was referring to in that video," Escudero said.
Defense lawyers repeatedly objected to linking the video clips to the prosecution's line of questioning, arguing that the questions were vague and irrelevant. They also sought to strike portions of Matibag's testimony from the record.
Escudero denied the request.
"The objection is overruled, and the motion to strike is denied. Let it remain in the records for the appreciation of the senator-judges as to the weight they will give that particular part of the witness' testimony," he ruled.
The presiding officer also clarified that Matibag was not yet serving as NBI director during the bureau's earlier investigation into the alleged threats. However, Escudero said Matibag could testify about the agency's investigation and the subsequent creation of the special task force based on official records.
Matibag maintained that the bureau's assessment had evolved as investigators gathered more information.
Jul 21, 2026
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
