NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Saturday said the agency is prepared to appear at Wednesday’s House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, where one of the issues to be taken up is her alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
“Ako po, kasama po ‘yung mga nag-imbestiga ng mga panahong wala pa po ako doon,” Matibag said at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City when asked who from the NBI will attend the April 29 hearing of the Justice Committee.
Matibag explained that the bureau’s testimony would cover the investigation conducted by the NBI on Duterte’s public threat against the three people mentioned, including the digital materials and pronouncements posted on social media.
“Well, una po sa lahat the National Bureau of Investigation at that time conducted an investigation on that matter, sa threats na ginawa ni VP Sara kay Presidente Bongbong, kay First Lady at kay Speaker po, including po ‘yung mga digital po, ‘yung pronouncement po na nasa social media, tiningnan po ‘yan,” Matibag said.
He noted that the case has already gone beyond internal review because the NBI had filed a complaint before the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice (DoJ), and that the bureau would bring supporting materials to the House hearing.
“And alam naman na po natin that there was a case filed by the NBI before the National Prosecution Service of DOJ (Department of Justice). So that will cover the testimony. We will also bring the documents at video recordings na pina-authenticate po sa National Bureau of Investigation,” he added.
Matibag also confirmed that the bureau’s investigating team found a basis for two possible violations of the Revised Penal Code arising from Duterte’s meltdown video and related statements, a point that is likely to weigh heavily in Wednesday’s proceedings.
“Well, unang una nga po, we filed a case sa National Prosecution Service sa DOJ. Because ang findings ng ating investigating team at that time is there really was a violation of the Revised Penal Code: there’s Grave Threats and Inciting to Sedition pumasok rin po. ‘Yan ang findings ng ating investigating team noon po,” Matibag stressed.
That statement effectively confirms that the NBI recommended the filing of grave threats and inciting to sedition charges, placing the bureau’s findings at the center of one of the most politically volatile fronts of the impeachment case.
Matibag emphasized that the NBI treats threats seriously whether they are directed at the President or any other official, and stressed that such matters are investigated once they reach the bureau.
“Well lahat lahat naman na pumapasok sa NBI na threat or anything to anyone, not only the President or any official sa lahat po, pag pumasok po iimbestigahan po namin, hindi lang po motu proprio,” he said.
He pointed out that while no person had yet been identified in relation to the alleged contracting referenced in Duterte’s public statement, the bureau continued to examine the matter, including the vice president’s own counter-affidavit and the surrounding circumstances raised in reports and online posts.
“Nang sinabi po yan may mga imbestigasyon na, of course as of now hindi naman po na-identify. But that’s our plan also na kung may ganoon kailangang imbestigahan,” Matibag stated.
“Sa katunayan nag-submit ng counter affidavit si VP at meron din, we follow the, kasi meron siyang binabanggit na oplan na sinasabi na, ewan ko lang kung paano sinasabi, syempre tinitingnan din po namin ‘yun. Nagbasa po kami ng mga report, social media, posting na nagre-request pala siya na mag-jogging doon sa loob ng Batasan Complex at that time and there was a lead na sinasabi na pag nagjo-jogging siya doon there will be an attempt. So lahat po yan tinitignan po namin,” Matibag recounted.
With the next hearing set for Wednesday, the bureau’s appearance is expected to give lawmakers a fuller picture of how the NBI assessed Duterte’s statements, what evidence it authenticated, and why its investigators concluded that the matter was serious enough to warrant criminal referral.
