Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday questioned the authenticity and source of the video allegedly showing Vice President Sara Duterte making grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during the third day of her impeachment trial before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
During the proceedings, Padilla asked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, a prosecution witness, whether the prosecution obtained the original copy of the video and an affidavit from the person who initially recorded Duterte’s statement.
Padilla raised concerns over the chain of custody of the video, saying the original file would be crucial in determining whether the footage was authentic.
“Ayun kasi po parang narinig ko kanina, hindi po na ibigay yung original copy noong isinagawang interview kay Vice President Sara Duterte. Yung original po na kopya, kung sino po yung nag-record? Wala po kayong affidavit? Meron po ba kayong affidavit na nakuha?” Padilla asked.
Calilung clarified that the affidavit submitted was his own, as he was the one who recorded the publicly available video through a screen-recording process requested by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Ang ni-request po ng DOJ diyan is affidavit po nung nag-screen record, which is my affidavit, Your Honor,” Calilung explained.
Padilla then asked if the affidavit came from the person who originally recorded Duterte’s video.
“Ah, hindi po yung mismong tao?” Padilla asked.
“Yes, po. Ang hinihingi po kasi ni DOJ is kung sino yung nag-screen record through OBS, sir,” Calilung replied.
Padilla pressed further, asking if Calilung had personally communicated with the original recorder and obtained the raw file.
“Yung mismong nag-record po kay Inday, Vice President. Nakausap niyo po ba? Yung raw file po. Kasi napakahalaga po nun. Kasi doon po natin malalaman kung original ba o hindi,” Padilla said.
Calilung responded that the video used by the NBI was already publicly available online.
“The video itself, sir, is publicly available. That's why I performed the recording, sir,” he said.
When Padilla asked directly whether the NBI obtained the original video file from its source, Calilung admitted that they did not.
“The original, no, sir,” Calilung answered.
Padilla also questioned earlier proceedings related to the sufficiency of the complaint for preliminary investigation, citing a February 5 finding that certain requirements were incomplete before the case was later deemed sufficient on February 14.
Calilung said the issuance of a certification indicated that the requirements had been addressed.
The exchange came as the Senate impeachment court continued examining evidence presented by the House prosecution team against Duterte, including allegations involving her controversial video statement against President Marcos Jr. and other officials.
