Matibag’s ruling, ‘bell-ringer Anika’ bring laughter to impeachment trial

NBI Director Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand during the continuation of a cross-examination on Day 9 of the Duterte impeachment trial on July 22, 2026. (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER.net) MANILA, Philippines — The serious mood inside the Senate session hall during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial on Wednesday was broken a few times when a witness and the “bell-ringer, Anika” made the senator-judges and the audience laugh. The following moments were observed from inside the session hall that may not have been seen in the livestream. ‘Asked and answered‘ Fifty minutes into defense counsel Mark Vinluan’s cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, the NBI chief himself responded to Vinluan’s question with an objection typically made by the opposing counsel, and then, the presiding officer was supposed to rule on it. Article continues after this advertisement Asked a second time by Vinluan whether the document used by the NBI to determine a pattern of violence was former police officer Arturo Lascañas’ affidavit, Matibag, who has been a member of the bar for 29 years, responded in jest, with a ruling: “Asked and answered, Your Honor.” This response earned giggles from Duterte’s defense team, including Vinluan, and members of the House prosecution panel. The prosecution panel also chuckled because the prosecution’s lead counsel, Rep. Gerville Luistro, had previously uttered the same words to make an objection to the question. People in the session hall burst into laughter after hearing Matibag’s response. As he chuckled, Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero reminded the NBI chief to refrain from making a ruling on behalf of the presiding officer. Article continues after this advertisement But he also noted that “the gentleman would have been correct” with the decision. Escudero was grinning as he thanked Matibag for “saving him the trouble.” Article continues after this advertisement “Sorry, Your Honor,” a joyful Matibag replied. READ: Matibag reminded: Leave rulings to Senate impeachment court Anika rings the bell After the cross-examination of the witness, the senator-judges were given the opportunity to interject two minutes at a time. Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo was third to come to the stand and two minutes later, the timekeeper rang the bell as a reminder that his time was up. He left the podium not a minute more than what was allowed. Later, Senator-judge Robin Padilla stood at the podium at 3:31 p.m., and when he had kept the mic until 3:41 p.m. with no bell ring, Tulfo complained across the podium, pointing out the lack of a ringing bell. “If it’s the majority, when two minutes are up, this one rings the bell again and again,” an impassioned Tulfo said, pointing to the secretariat behind him. Tulfo even admitted that he had been whispering to the timekeeper to ring the bell. This earned some chuckles from the audience and Escudero himself. In agreement with his colleague, Escudero asked the clerk of court to remind, in his words, the “bell-ringer” to “be consistent in doing the polite reminder with respect to the time.” Escudero’s description of the court staff made the audience roar, and he himself could not help but crack up. When it was Senator-judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s turn to speak, the two-minute bell was heard, and Senator-judges Lito Lapid, Tulfo and Joel Villanueva were observed laughing among themselves. After Pangilinan’s interjection, Escudero said: “For the information of Senator-judge Lapid and those who may be interested, the name of the bell-ringer is Anika.” With this, the audience laughed again. Then, seven minutes into Senator-judge Imee Marcos’ interjection, Tulfo rang the bell himself. /apl Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.