Tolosa: Prosecutors may not follow up on Matibag’s testimony

Impeachment prosecution team spokesman Benjamin Tolosa Jr. answers questions during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. — Screengrab from House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment prosecution team may opt out of further questioning its witness National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Melvin Matibag later Wednesday afternoon, according to its legal spokesman Benjamin Tolosa Jr. In a media briefing, Tolosa said Matibag may not undergo a redirect examination by prosecutors as the top investigator’s testimony has not yet been undermined by Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel in her impeachment trial. “With the questions asked yesterday, we haven’t seen much reason to redirect,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement A redirect examination is a phase in a trial where a lawyer can again question their own witness following cross-examination by the opposing side, and it provides an opportunity to clarify any testimony weakened or muddled by counsel for the opposing party. Prosecutors have billed that Matibag’s testimony remains unshaken despite questioning by Duterte’s lawyers. On Tuesday, the NBI chief said the vice president’s threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is a “serious, active and continuing” assassination plot that has become a national security concern. Duterte faces an impeachment trial for accusations that she misused hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds, amassed unexplained wealth, bribed officials and threatened Marcos, his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and and his cousin former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The prosecution team is expected to finish presenting its first of the four impeachment articles against the vice president later afternoon. And their opening salvo hammered on claims that Duterte betrayed public trust and violated constitutional order when she plotted to have Marcos assassinated in the event she herself were killed in an escalating political feud with the president. /das Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.