Matibag reminded: Leave rulings to Senate impeachment court

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand during the continuation of the cross-examination on Day 9 at the Senate Impeachment Court in Pasay City, July 22, 2026. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — In one of the lighter moments during Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag was reminded that rulings on the defense’s line of questioning must be made only by the Senate impeachment court. During the trial on Wednesday, defense lawyer Mark Vinluan was asking Matibag regarding the claims of ex-police officer Arturo Lascañas, as the latter’s affidavit about Duterte being one of the many architects of the past administration’s anti-drug war was brought up as proof of the Vice President’s penchant for violence. Vinluan asked whether Matibag used Lascañas’ affidavit without even issuing a subpoena for him to verify the claims, to which the NBI chief said that what they did was to pursue a verification process. When Vinluan repeated his question, Matibag responded by saying that the question had been “asked and answered.” Article continues after this advertisement READ: Sara Duterte asks Senate to foot bill for exclusive catering at trial “So are you saying that you now believe these statements without issuing a subpoena to Lascañas and verifying it with him?” Vinluan asked. “We did not issue a subpoena to Lascañas but we had a verification process,” Matibag replied. “But not with Lascañas who is the author of that document,” Vinluan said. “Asked and answered po your Honor,” Matibag fired back. Article continues after this advertisement Matibag’s answer prompted laughs not only from Vinluan, but also from lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, and Presiding Officer Senator-judge Francis Escudero — as objections to a panel’s line of questioning would have to be raised by the opposing counsel, and rulings have to be made by the presiding officer. In this case, since Vinluan is the one doing the cross-examination, Luistro should have been the one who raised a point of objection — that the question has been “asked and answered” — and Escudero would have made a ruling on the objection. Article continues after this advertisement Escudero reminded Matibag not to make a ruling on his behalf, but clarified that he agrees with Matibag’s ‘ruling.’ READ: WATCH: Luistro rejects ‘mini-trial’ label in Duterte impeachment case “The Presiding Officer would like to remind the witness to kindly avoid making a ruling for and on behalf of the Presiding Officer,” Escudero said while trying to hold back his laughter. “I’m sorry, your Honor,” Matibag said. “But the gentleman would have been correct; the Presiding Officer would have said the same thing. Thank you for saving me the trouble but try to avoid that, Director Matibag,” Escudero added. The impeachment court is still discussing Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which deals with Duterte’s threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. However, Matibag is the third and last witness from the prosecution panel for Article IV. The prosecution intended to present several other witnesses, including Office of the Vice President chief of staff and Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, but Luistro and the prosecution’s counsel, Lorna Kapunan, announced during the second week of the trial that they would no longer call them. According to Luistro and Kapunan, they believe they have established matters that the prosecution needs to sustain a conviction. Duterte’s threats came from a November 23, 2024 online press briefing, while the vice president was on the House premises to accompany Lopez. Lopez was detained after she was cited for contempt by the House committee on good government and public accountability of the 19th Congress, for supposedly committing undue interference during the panel’s investigation of alleged confidential fund misuse within Duterte’s offices. In that online press briefing, Duterte was asked by a vlogger to take care as she may be in danger. The vice president then responded by urging people not to worry about her as she has already talked to a person about killing the Marcos couple and Romualdez if she herself gets killed. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. The defense panel has maintained even before the impeachment trial that Duterte’s statements were part of free speech. However, several government officials and prosecutors believe it was a grave threat — regardless of whether or not the Vice President executed a contract with an assassin to kill the three. /mr