Camille Naredo

The House prosecution panel presents NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, from the Cybercrime Investigation Unit, to testify on the Article IV charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 7, 2026. Joseph B. Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, tackles Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on day two of the trial, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. 
The House prosecution panel presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, from the Cybercrime Investigation Unit, to testify on the Article IV charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.
With Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero overseeing the trial alongside Senate President Win Gatchalian, Senator-judges listened to testimony related to the alleged grave threats made by the vice president against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. 
Joseph B. Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178374588096920260708-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-SSMU-JV-36.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The House prosecution panel presents NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, from the Cybercrime Investigation Unit, to testify on the Article IV charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 7, 2026. Joseph B. Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The House prosecution panel presents NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, from the Cybercrime Investigation Unit, to testify on the Article IV charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 7, 2026. <em>Joseph B. Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters its second week, House prosecutor Representative Leila De Lima expects that the next witness from the National Bureau of Investigation will fortify the foundations laid by the prosecution&#x27;s first witness, NBI senior agent John Mark Calilung.</p><p>NBI Regional Director and senior agent, lawyer Jeremy Lotoc is expected to take the witness stand on Monday, July 13 as the trial continues to tackle the fourth Article of Impeachment --  the alleged assassination plot arranged by Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the president&#x27;s cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/inside-the-session-hall-the-first-3-days-of-vp-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-0200">Inside the session hall: The first 3 days of VP Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial</a></div><p>&quot;Dadagdagan &#x27;yung testimonya ni Senior Agent Mark Calilung. Papalakasin syempre kasi pundasyon lang &#x27;yun. So brick by brick, we&#x27;re going to make it stronger. The evidence against VP Sara, against the respondent is for Article 4. So mostly, mainly, testimonial evidence,&quot; she said in a news forum Saturday, July 11. </p><p>Lotoc is the NBI investigator who led the probe into Duterte&#x27;s alleged threat, according to De Lima. </p><p>&quot;He will both be corroborating as well as adding certain aspects to the testimony of Agent Calilung. Lalo na doon sa pinaka-imbestigasyon mismo at ano ang resulta, ano &#x27;yung basehan nung kanilang konklusyon kung bakit rinifer nila o finorward nila sa DOJ,&quot; she added. </p><p>Lotoc is expected to lay down the circumstances, the context and the &quot;seriousness&quot; of the vice president&#x27;s alleged kill plot given the results of the bureau&#x27;s investigation. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/prosecutors-undaunted-if-vp-sara-shows-up-in-impeach-trial-spokesman-0853">READ: Prosecutors undaunted if VP Sara shows up in impeach trial - spokesman</a></div><p>However, De Lima declined to divulge details on the expected testimony of Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez as hostile witness. </p><p>&quot;We cannot at this point disclose kung ano &#x27;yung direction or focus ng investigation especially that of course she will be presented as a hostile witness,&quot; the lawmaker-prosecutor noted. </p><p>&quot;Tandaan din po natin na ang pag-a-assess po ng prosecution kung sino at ano ang ebidensya ay base &#x27;yan, that would depend on the outcome of the testimony of the preceding witness,&quot; she added. </p><p>De Lima noted that the identification of next witnesses to take the stand would depend on the outcome of Lotoc&#x27;s testimony. </p><p>&quot;So, isusunod ba kaagad si Atty. Zuleika o meron ho bang dapat na ipresenta after Atty. Lotoc. It depends now on the outcome of the testimony of Atty. Lotoc,&quot; she said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/prosecutors-shrug-off-zuleika-lopez-s-senate-visit-1659">READ: Prosecutors shrug off Zuleika Lopez’s Senate visit</a></div><p>De Lima also believes the authenticity of the video of Duterte&#x27;s alleged threat is no longer debatable, arguing that the Defense even used the same video. </p><p>&quot;Kasi sila mismo, yung kabila, napansin niyo po, na actually, nagpakita rin po sila ng certain portions of the video. So admission po &#x27;yun. Nagpapakita na wala silang kinikwestiyon sa pagdating sa issue ng authenticity,&quot; she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;DOUBLE MEANING?&#x27;</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, De Lima also weighed in on the remark of OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez during her Senate visit on July 9 where the latter told reporters, &quot;Prepare for Typhoon Inday.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Merong double meaning &#x27;yang ganyang salita,&quot; De Lima asserted.</p><p>&quot;Inday&quot; is both the name of a typhoon and the nickname of Duterte.</p><p>&quot;So literally, tama &#x27;yun, prepare for Typhoon Inday. Pero pwede rin natin ma-interpret in another manner, it has to do with the impeachment. Meron na naman bang kababalaghang pinaplano &#x27;yung kabila, &#x27;yung kampo ni VP Sara para madiskarel, maka-delay dito sa impeachment trial?&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;So double meaning po yun, we just hope that she&#x27;s just referring to the first meaning, the first literal meaning of that statement,&quot; De Lima stated. </p><p>Typhoon Inday <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/7/11/-inday-exits-par-signal-no-1-still-up-in-batanes-1136">left the Philippine area of responsibility</a> on Saturday morning.</p>

<p>House prosecutor Representative Leila De Lima expects that the next witness from the National Bureau of Investigation will fortify the foundations laid by the prosecution's first witness, NBI senior agent John Mark Calilung.</p>

House prosecutor Representative Leila De Lima expects that the next witness from the National Bureau of Investigation will fortify the foundations laid by the prosecution's first witness, NBI senior agent John Mark Calilung.

Next NBI witness to 'strengthen' testimony of Calilung – De Lima

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Next NBI witness to 'strengthen' testimony of Calilung – De Lima

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 11, 2026 01:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Leila De Lima

Chel Diokno

impeachment

Sara Duterte

Philippine Senate

Duterte impeachment

House prosecutors

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.