PHOTO CREDIT: CONGRESS PH

The House prosecution panel remains confident in its evidence against Vice President Sara Duterte as it prepares for the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, saying the defense has failed to weaken the bureau's findings despite two weeks of cross-examination before the Senate impeachment court.

House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the defense focused on minor documentary issues but failed to undermine the authenticity of the recordings and the credibility of the NBI witnesses who testified under Article IV of the impeachment complaint.

“Pero as far as we’re concerned, they have nitpicked on the documents but they have not dismantled the authentication and the testimony of the two witnesses,” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

Article IV centers on Vice President Duterte's alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez during her Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference. The NBI later investigated the remarks and recommended the filing of criminal complaints for grave threats and inciting to sedition.

During the first two weeks of the impeachment trial, prosecutors presented NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified on the authenticity of the electronic evidence, the chain of custody of the recordings, and the Cybercrime Division's forensic examination. The NBI concluded that the recordings showed no signs of editing, alteration, or artificial intelligence manipulation.

With the prosecution nearing the end of its presentation for Article IV, Ridon said all eyes are now on Matibag, who is scheduled to testify before the Senate impeachment court on July 21.

“Hindi po namin alam kung ano po ’yung mangyayari doon sa pagsalang ni Director Matibag. Pero siyempre ang focus talaga namin is to let him speak his truth, particularly on ’yung kabuuang komprehensibong investigation na ginawa po ng NBI,” Ridon said.

According to Ridon, Matibag will present the bureau's overall investigation into Duterte's remarks, including the findings of NBI offices beyond the Cybercrime Division and whether authorities found indications that the alleged threats against the President and his family remain ongoing.

“Basically bubuuin niya ’yung naging imbestigasyon ng NBI on the threats made by the Vice President and whether there exists continuing threats by the Vice President on the President and his family,” he said.

Ridon noted that the impeachment trial has given Duterte's legal team the opportunity to directly challenge every witness and every piece of evidence before the senator-judges—something he said was not possible during the House proceedings.

“Ang pagkakaiba ho ngayon, harapan na ho, kumbaga hindi na ho puwedeng magtago ang Pangalawang Pangulo doon sa mga House justice proceedings,” he explained.

“Kailangan na ho nila harapin frontally and they have done it in the last two weeks, kung saan lahat po ng witnesses ay subject to cross.”

Asked about his earlier remark that Matibag's testimony could be "explosive," Ridon declined to reveal additional details.

“Kung sinabi ko ’yun ngayon, hindi na pasabog ’yun. So antayin po natin ’yung testimonya ni Director Matibag,” he said.

Ridon added that the prosecution would leave it to the senator-judges to decide whether to entertain issues beyond 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.

Matibag is expected to be the prosecution's final witness for Article IV before the House panel proceeds to present evidence on the impeachment article involving Vice President Duterte's alleged misuse of confidential funds.