National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Wednesday clarified that the agency’s open source investigation into documents allegedly from self-proclaimed Davao Death Squad hitman Arturo Lascañas was not merely based on a Google search.

During the ninth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, defense lawyer Atty. Mark Vinluan questioned Matibag about the NBI’s process in obtaining the document related to Lascañas’ affidavit, which was cited in the investigation into the alleged contracting of an assassin by Duterte.

“You mentioned yesterday that you did an open source investigation to obtain the Lascañas document, correct?” Vinluan asked.

“That is correct, po, sir,” Matibag replied.

Vinluan then asked whether the NBI’s open source investigation was simply a result of a Google search.

“But to be candid, was it just [a] Google search?” the defense lawyer asked.

“Hindi po,” Matibag said.

When asked if he could disclose the method used by the NBI in its open source investigation, Matibag said the agency was able to obtain a copy of Lascañas’ affidavit.

“We were provided, dito po nagsimula yan, we got hold of a copy of the affidavit of Arturo Lascañas,” Matibag testified.

The defense panel had been scrutinizing the NBI’s investigation process, particularly the manner by which the agency obtained and validated documents involving allegations against Vice President Duterte.