The Senate resumes the ninth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, July 22, with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag returning to the witness stand.
The defense team continues its cross-examination of Matibag after being granted additional time during the previous hearing. Once the defense concludes, the House prosecution panel conducts its redirect examination, followed by clarificatory questions from the senator-judges.
The impeachment court will also continue to tackle Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on allegations of an alleged assassination plot, grave threats, and inciting to sedition against the President.
Senate Opens Day 9 of VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial
The Senate impeachment court formally opens the ninth day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, July 22, with 17 Senator-Judges in attendance.
Presiding Officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero officially opens the proceedings.The trial continues with the presentation and examination of witnesses and evidence.
Matibag resumes testimony in Impeachment Trial
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag returns to the Senate on Wednesday, July 22, to continue his testimony in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The defense panel resumes its cross-examination, with defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan questioning Matibag as proceedings continue before the Senate impeachment court.
Luistro insists house proceedings were ‘never a mini trial.'
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro reiterates that the House Committee on Justice did not conduct a “mini trial” during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, insisting it only held a clarificatory hearing.
“The prosecution has been very consistent that what we did in the Committee of Justice of the House of Representatives is never a mini trial. It is a clarificatory hearing consistent with the House rules on impeachment and the provisions of Article XI of the Constitution,” Luistro says.
The statement comes after defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan questioned whether the House proceedings had effectively become a “mini trial” during Wednesday’s Senate impeachment proceedings.
Matibag says VP Duterte’s statement amounted to an admission of threat
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag testifies that Vice President Sara Duterte’s public statement about allegedly contacting an assassin to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. constitutes an admission of making a threat and could be linked to betrayal of public trust.
“When she publicly admitted, there is already an admission that she contracted a killer,” Matibag says during his testimony.
Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan objects, arguing that Matibag’s testimony contains legal and factual conclusions, and moves to have the statement stricken from the record. However, Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero denies the motion, allowing Matibag’s testimony to remain on record for the senator-judges’ consideration.
NBI Director says VP Sara ‘never attended’ despite subpoenas
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau did not issue a subpoena for Vice President Sara Duterte during his term, citing her previous failure to attend proceedings.
“We never subpoenaed because we noticed every time proper subpoenas were issued to the Vice President, she will never attend,” Matibag told the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday.
Matibag added that his statement was based not only on NBI matters but also on Duterte’s absence from other proceedings, including House committee hearings, as he testified as the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV on grave threats.
Matibag clarifies meaning of ‘kinetic force’ in Impeachment Trial
NBI Director Melvin Matibag clarified his previous statement on “kinetic force” in relation to the alleged grave threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Matibag explained that whether an act is considered “kinetic force” depends on the circumstances surrounding the action.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero asked if not all forms of opposition or actions against the government fall under the term, which Matibag agreed with during the ninth day of the impeachment trial.
Lacson confirms Lascañas retracted and changed testimony on EJK allegations
Senator-judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed that former police officer Arturo Lascañas retracted and changed his earlier testimony regarding allegations of extrajudicial killings (EJK).
“I will confirm that Arturo Lascañas retracted and changed his testimony,” Lacson said during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Lacson clarified that he did not file a perjury complaint against Lascañas, adding that the Senate committee report only recommended increasing penalties for perjury under the Revised Penal Code. The issue was raised after the defense questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag about a document linked to Lascañas.
Vinluan challenges Matibag over confidential records in Impeachment Trial
Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag regarding confidential records presented during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Quoting House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno’s earlier statement, Vinluan asked, “Don’t you believe that ang katotohanan ay hindi confidential?” while referring to the documents Matibag mentioned in court.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro objected to the question, calling it argumentative, prompting Vinluan to proceed to another line of inquiry.
Matibag says NBI verified Lascañas affidavit before using it as evidence
Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag on whether the agency believed the affidavit of alleged Davao Death Squad hitman Arturo Lascañas during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Matibag said the NBI did not immediately accept Lascañas’ affidavit but subjected it to a verification process before using it as a basis in identifying an alleged pattern of violence.
“Hindi po nag-issue ng subpoena kay Lascañas pero meron pong naging verification process. Kalaunan po ito ay ginamit na namin bilang isa sa basihan po doon sa pattern of violence pagkatapos po naming idaan sa proseso,” Matibag said.
Matibag Shares Light Moment With Escudero and Vinluan During Trial
NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan shared a lighthearted exchange during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Matibag jokingly told the defense counsel “Asked and answered, your Honor,” echoing a common courtroom objection after Vinluan’s line of questioning.
Escudero reminded Matibag to avoid making rulings on behalf of the presiding officer, to which the NBI chief responded, “Pasensya na po, your Honor.”
Tulfo Questions NBI on how persons of interest were identified
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag on how the agency identified persons of interest allegedly linked to the supposed plot against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Paano natunton?” Tulfo asked during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Matibag said the NBI relied on various intelligence reports, including officer and human intelligence, which were processed and narrowed down through investigation until the bureau reached its resolution. Matibag serves as the final witness of the House prosecution for Article IV on grave threats.
Matibag says freedom of expression has limitations amid Baste Duterte remarks
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said freedom of expression is constitutionally protected but has limitations, during questioning by defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan at the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Tama naman po kayo, wala naman pong martial law ngayon at pwede naman pong magsalita. But the freedom of expression has limitation also,” Matibag said.
Matibag explained that while individuals may express dissent against the government, such statements may not be protected if they violate the law or become harmful to the public.
Lacson questions NBI why Mayor Baste as not investigated
Senator-judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag on why the bureau investigated Vice President Sara Duterte over alleged threats against the First Family but did not conduct a similar probe on Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
“I’m just wondering why you did not investigate Mayor Baste,” Lacson asked during the ninth day of the impeachment trial.
Matibag said the NBI also looked into the possibility of “sabwatan” or conspiracy but explained that pursuing the case under that theory would have made the complaint more difficult to establish. The issue stemmed from Mayor Baste Duterte’s April 2026 speech where he said, “Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin — ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos.”
Padilla questions Lascañas’ alleged inconsistent testimonies
Senator-judge Robin Padilla questioned House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro regarding the alleged inconsistencies in the testimonies of Arturo Lascañas during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Pagka ang isang witness po ay naging, halimbawa ng paiba-iba ang sinasabi, ano po ang tawag dito? Diba po kasinungalingan?” Padilla asked.
The senator raised the issue while discussing Lascañas’ previous statements and alleged changes in testimony related to the case.
Tulfo raises concern over time allocation in Impeachment Trial
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo expressed frustration over the allocation of speaking time among senator-judges during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Nakakahalata na kami ah,” Tulfo said, arguing that it was unfair for the minority bloc to receive more time compared to the majority.
Tulfo also questioned why some senator-judges were allowed to exceed the two-minute limit allotted for their questions during the proceedings.
Cayetano Questions Matibag Over Previous Statement on NBI Presence
Senator-judge Pia Cayetano questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag over his previous statement regarding the bureau’s presence near the Senate following the May 13, 2026 incident involving Senator Bato dela Rosa.
Cayetano presented the Senate’s official website showing that Senate offices are located at the GSIS Building and occupy leased space within the Sequoia Hotel, which Matibag previously cited as the location of NBI personnel.
“You swore an oath, ano? To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is that correct?” Cayetano reminded Matibag during the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Senate Impeachment Trial Adjourns After Completing Article IV Proceedings
The Senate impeachment court adjourned the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Wednesday after completing proceedings for Article IV on alleged grave threats, following the testimony of final prosecution witness NBI Director Melvin Matibag.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero officially ended the session and said the court is two days ahead of schedule, completing the first article in nine days instead of the expected 11 after the House prosecution dropped six witnesses.
The impeachment trial will resume next week for the continuation of the remaining proceedings.
