FACT CHECK: NBI agent Calilung not arrested after VP Sara trial testimony

There is no warrant or report of an arrest made after NBI agent John Mark Calilung testified as the first witness in the Vice President's impeachment trial Claim: Senior National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent John Mark Calilung, the first witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, has been arrested. Rating: FALSE Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube channel named “PHILIPPINES TRENDING NEWS” uploaded a video containing the claim on July 12. The video is titled “Kinarma na! Kakapasok lang, matinding utos, Senado, pirmado na? Wala [nang] takas; huli, NBI witness kulong?” (Karma has struck! Just in: Major Senate order signed? No escape, NBI witness caught, jailed?) Its thumbnail, which shows images of Calilung and Duterte, also bears the text, “Kulong na ngayon lang, NBI witness, arestado na?” (Jailed just now? NBI witness already arrested?) As of writing, the video has garnered over 28,000 views and 1,100 likes. The facts: Calilung was never arrested or jailed following his testimony before the Senate impeachment court on July 7 and the cross-examination by one of Duterte’s defense counsel, Carlo Narvasa, on July 8. The NBI agent was not detained by authorities nor was an arrest warrant issued for him right after his appearance at the trial. The video’s central claim is also unsupported by its own content. Rather than presenting evidence that Calilung was arrested, the video recycles political commentary from Duterte-aligned political vlogger Banat By, largely talking about Calilung’s testimony and questioning his credibility. At no point does the narration claim or discuss that Calilung had been arrested or detained. The first witness: Calilung served as the prosecution’s primary witness to authenticate a November 2024 video from a press conference held by the Duterte, in which she allegedly made grave threats against the President. These form the basis of Article IV of the impeachment complaint against her. As an officer of the NBI’s Cybercrime Division, Calilung explained how investigators preserved and authenticated footage in which Duterte allegedly said that, should anything happen to her, an assassin was prepared to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House speaker Martin Romualdez. (READ: Sara Duterte: If I get killed, so will Marcos, Liza Araneta, Romualdez) During cross-examination, Duterte’s defense questioned Calilung’s qualifications as a digital forensic examiner, prompting Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero to direct Calilung to submit his certifications. The grave threats charge is one of four articles of impeachment against Duterte. The others allege the misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust — including allegations of unexplained wealth — and bribery and corruption. – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated with a degree in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. How does this make you feel? Loading