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Day 4 of VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026
Day 4 of VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026
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Day 4 of VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026
by DZRH News13 July 2026
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The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters its fourth day on Monday, July 13, with prosecutors expected to continue presenting evidence under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.

Article IV centers on allegations that Duterte committed grave threats based on her controversial remarks, in which she allegedly stated that, should she be assassinated, she had hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.

Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), is scheduled to take the witness stand as the prosecution resumes its presentation of witnesses before the impeachment court.

The impeachment court aims to hear testimony from three witnesses during the second week of the trial, from July 13 to July 15, following the presentation of its first witness last week, Senior NBI Agent John Mark Calilung.

Prosecutors are expected to use Lotoc's testimony to reinforce Calilung's earlier statements, which form part of the prosecution's evidence supporting Article IV of the impeachment complaint.

Senate opens the fourth day of VP Duterte's impeachment trial.

The Senate impeachment court officially convened for the fourth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Monday.



A total of 18 senator-judges were present, ensuring the required quorum to proceed with the day's proceedings. Senator-judge JV Ejercito led the opening prayer before the trial formally began.

Senator-Judge Tulfo asks the defense about 'Operation Romanov' witness

Senator Raffy Tulfo asked the defense panel whether vlogger Princess Maui would be presented as a witness in connection with the alleged "Operation Romanov," citing the defense's claim that it was "the plan to eliminate VP Sara and her family."



Atty. Mark Vinluan confirmed that the reference was the same "Operation Romanov" mentioned by vlogger Princess Maui during an online press conference in November 2024.

However, Vinluan said, "It will depend on what will be established by the prosecution. The defense reserves its right to call or not call any witness."

Senator-Judge Cayetano questions request to reschedule NBI chief’s testimony

Senator Alan Cayetano criticized the House prosecution's request to move the testimony of NBI Director Melvin Matibag forward due to a scheduling conflict, saying, "I find it in bad taste that a bureau head will dictate to us that he is not available next week."



House prosecutor Lorenz Defensor clarified that the prosecution was only seeking to advance Matibag's appearance by one day in accordance with the subpoena issued by the Senate impeachment court.

"We will only be advancing his testimony one day... He is scheduled to testify until Wednesday," Defensor said.

Senate President Win Gatchalian also objected to the House prosecution’s request to advance the appearance of NBI Director Melvin Matibag as a witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

NBI BARMM Director Jeremy Lotoc Named Second Witness in VP Duterte Impeachment Trial

Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, regional director of the National Bureau of Investigation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (NBI-BARMM), appeared as the second witness of the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday.



House prosecutor Atty. Virgil Ligutan introduced Lotoc as a lawyer and former chief of the NBI Cybercrime Division who was part of the team that investigated the Vice President’s alleged threats during an online media briefing on November 23, 2024.

“Jeremy Lotoc is a lawyer by profession and he was the chief of the cybercrime division of the NBI in 2024,” Ligutan said.

Prosecution Claims VP Duterte Had Alleged Contract Killer Before Online Press Conference

House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan claimed during the impeachment trial that Vice President Sara Duterte had allegedly contracted a hitman even before her November 23, 2024 online press conference where she made remarks considered by prosecutors as an assassination threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.



Ligutan said the claim forms part of the matters the prosecution seeks to establish through its second witness, NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc. The allegation remains part of the prosecution’s presentation in the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.

NBI Conducted Probe on VP Duterte’s Alleged Threats, Says Lotoc

NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc testified that the NBI Cybercrime Division conducted an investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements during an online press conference on November 23, 2024, regarding the alleged threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.



Lotoc said the NBI has the authority to investigate cases involving threats against the security of top government officials.

“The NBI has primary jurisdiction to undertake investigations on cases, among others, cases involving threats to security and assault against the persons of the highest officials,” Lotoc said.

NBI Presents VP Duterte’s Alleged Remarks Against Marcos in Impeachment Trial

NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc presented, during the fourth day of the impeachment trial, the alleged remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during an online press conference on October 18, 2024, which were reviewed by the NBI Cybercrime Division.



Lotoc cited statements from the vice president's online press conference, including, “Gusto kong tanggalin yung ulo niya,” “I realized toxic na itong relationship,” and “I imagine myself cutting his head” as part of the recorded material.

He said the NBI has custody of the video and identified the timestamp from 1:35:57 to 1:36:58 as the portion presented as evidence in the impeachment proceedings.

Defense Questions NBI Witness’ Use of Notes During Testimony

Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison questioned NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc’s reliance on his notes while testifying during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The defense pointed out that Lotoc was reading from his notes instead of directly referring to the documents he had identified, prompting Sison to take the documents presented.

Private prosecutor Amando Ligutan responded, “Wala po sa rules na kailangan ‘yung tugon ng isang witness ay dapat base sa isang dokumento.”

The documents involved the assessments of the National Security Council and the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding the alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

NBI witness says VP Duterte’s alleged remarks were ‘serious’ and ‘real’

NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc testified that the alleged death threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were considered “serious” and “real and actual” based on the NBI Cybercrime Division’s assessment.

Lotoc said investigators considered four factors in evaluating the statements, including the manner of delivery, the literal meaning of the remarks, the nature of the instruction, and the relationship between the parties.

“The utterances made by the vice president [were] serious, and the threat was real and actual,” Lotoc said during the impeachment trial.

NBI subpoena to VP Duterte presented in Impeachment Trial

The House prosecution team presented the subpoena testificandum issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to Vice President Sara Duterte on November 25, 2024, during the continuation of the impeachment trial.



NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc testified that Duterte was summoned to clarify matters related to the agency’s investigation but did not personally appear before the NBI and instead sent her lawyer.

Lotoc added that the vice president's camp submitted a letter on November 28, 2024, regarding her non-attendance.

NBI witness confirms VP Duterte camp’s letter on missed subpoena appearance

NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc confirmed during the impeachment trial that the document presented before the Senate impeachment court was the same letter submitted by Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp on November 28, 2024, regarding her failure to appear before the NBI.



“Yes, Your Honor, this is the same,” Lotoc said when asked to verify the document.

He testified that Duterte did not personally attend the scheduled NBI appearance and instead sent her lawyer, citing in the letter that the vice president had official duties to attend to.

Video of VP Duterte’s Profane Remarks Presented in Impeachment Trial

Portions of a video showing Vice President Sara Duterte repeatedly using profane language during her November 23, 2024, online press conference were presented on the fourth day of her impeachment trial.



The NBI Cybercrime Division reviewed seven timestamps from the recording to examine the context and content of Duterte’s statements, according to NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc.

Among the remarks played in court were, “P*tang na ninyo! Sino ang kurap?... Eh p*tang na hindi mo pala gusto ‘yung ginagawa mo bakit mo sinisira pangalan ko, Joel Chua,” and “P*tang na ninyong lahat, Martin Romualdez, Liza Marcos, Bongbong Marcos,” as the trial continued to tackle the alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.

Defense raises concern over the use of waray-waray during VP Duterte Impeachment Trial

Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan questioned the use of Waray-Waray during the fourth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, July 13, saying he could not understand the statement and requesting that Filipino or English be used instead.




“Can we just ask that he states his statement in Filipino or English?,” Vinluan said during the proceedings.

House prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan explained that the Filipino language encompasses various languages and dialects in the country, including Waray-Waray, while Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero reminded both sides that Filipino and English are the designated languages of the trial, but other languages may be allowed in certain instances.

NBI Says No Verified Information Found on Alleged Hitman in VP Duterte Case

Senator-Judge Bam Aquino questioned NBI Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc on whether the agency identified the person allegedly contracted by Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with the reported threat against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.



Lotoc said the NBI attempted to obtain verified information from individuals with personal knowledge of the November 2024 online press conference but failed to confirm the existence of such a person.

“Well, Your Honor, if the second highest official of the land sinabi yan, hindi ho biro yan. Medyo mabigat ‘yan at yung pagkasabi pa niya na may kasamang galit at mga pagmumura, we took it very seriously, Your Honor,” Lotoc said.


Hontiveros asks NBI witness if proof of assassination is needed for grave threats

Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros questioned NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc on whether proof of a contracted assassin is necessary for statements to be considered grave threats in the impeachment trial.

Lotoc responded that such proof is not required under the crime of grave threats.

“Insofar as the crime of grave threats is concerned, hindi po ‘yun kailangan,” Lotoc said.

NBI Says It Has Authority to Issue Subpoena Under RA 10867

NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc said the National Bureau of Investigation has the authority to issue subpoenas under Republic Act No. 10867.



Lotoc made the statement in response to Senator-Judge JV Ejercito’s question on whether the NBI could issue a subpoena against an impeachable official, including Vice President Sara Duterte, in connection with the grave threats investigation.

“Yes, Your Honor, under Republic Act 10867,” Lotoc said.


Gatchalian questions link between Lopez’s statement and VP Duterte’s alleged threats

Senate President Win Gatchalian questioned NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc on why there was no direct connection between the statement of Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez and Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.



Lotoc said that based on the NBI’s investigation, they found that the vice president had allegedly communicated with someone regarding the threats even before the online briefing, which became part of their assessment.


Defense begins cross-examination of NBI witness

Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan began the cross-examination of NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc during the fourth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 13.



Lotoc had earlier testified as the House prosecution’s second witness regarding the NBI’s investigation into the Vice President’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The cross-examination marked the start of the defense’s questioning of the prosecution witness.

Prosecution questions relevance of defense’s inquiry on document dates

During the cross-examination of NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, House prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan questioned the relevance of the defense’s focus on the certification dates of documents presented in the impeachment trial.



“What’s the relevance?” Ligutan asked as defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan continued his line of questioning.

Vinluan explained that the issue concerns whether the records being presented were the actual documents being identified and authenticated before the Senate impeachment court.

NBI witness refers questions on docket number to DOJ

The affidavit of investigation form used by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) became the subject of questioning on the fourth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, particularly over discrepancies in the docket number indicated in the document.



NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc said he could not verify the docket number because the official records are with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Uulitin ko, mas maganda na kunin ang DOJ,” Lotoc told the Senate impeachment court.


Defense questions NBI subpoenas issued to media personalities in VP Duterte probe

Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan questioned the issuance of subpoenas by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to several media personalities in connection with its investigation involving Vice President Sara Duterte.



NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc explained that the agency issued the subpoenas to individuals who attended the online press conference to obtain information and details relevant to their investigation.

Lotoc said the move was part of the NBI’s effort to gather facts and clarify matters related to the case.





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