Senator-judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson questioned the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) handling of alleged threats involving Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte during the ninth day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 22.
During the cross-examination of NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Lacson pointed out that the statements attributed to Mayor Baste and Vice President Duterte were allegedly similar, but only the Vice President’s case was elevated to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for preliminary investigation.
“But I’m more interested in the cases of Mayor Baste at saka kay VP Sara. Kasi almost similar yung kanilang mga sinabi pero I’m just wondering why you did not investigate Mayor Baste pero si Mayor Sara, hindi lang kayo nag-investigate, nag-refer pa kayo ng complaint sa DOJ, hindi po ba?” Lacson asked.
Matibag explained that the NBI’s investigation focused on the alleged broader threat against national security, while the matter involving Mayor Baste was included in the agency’s special task force assessment.
“Yung dito po kay Mayor Baste, kaya hindi po natin naimbestigahan, isinasama po namin dito sa task force na ito to come out with the report,” Matibag said.
Lacson then asked if there was an ongoing law enforcement investigation against Mayor Baste. Matibag responded that the matter remained part of the special task force’s assessment.
The senator-judge further questioned whether the task force was created specifically in response to the statements of Mayor Baste or Vice President Duterte. Matibag said the trigger point was Mayor Baste’s statement, but the NBI had already been monitoring possible threats before the incident.
“Yung trigger point na nangyari dito ay yung kay Mayor Baste po. But prior to that, we are continually monitoring the threat,” Matibag said.
He added that the NBI began including threat assessments in its reports as early as February and March, but the agency elevated the matter after determining that the situation could escalate into a larger national security concern.
Lacson questioned whether the NBI treated Mayor Baste’s statement only as an open-source information gathering effort instead of pursuing a criminal complaint, suggesting that the different approaches could indicate a “double standard.”
“Halos pareho eh. Kaya iniisip ko, baka meron double standard. Bakit kaya nag-focus kay Vice President pero hindi niyo in-apply kay Mayor Baste?” Lacson said.
Matibag defended the NBI’s process, saying that one factor being considered was the possibility of conspiracy, which requires a more extensive investigation.
“Ang isa po din na-develop namin dito na theory po is yung sabwatan. And alam po natin, if we go to court using the theory of conspiracy, medyo mas mahirap po na ipasok na kaso. Kaya it’s taking much time to develop the case,” Matibag explained.
Matibag is the final witness presented by the prosecution for Article IV of the impeachment complaint involving alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
