Marilyn Cahatol

NBI Director Melvin Matibag attends a meeting called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of the Gatchalian bloc at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. The committee tackled issues involving government accountability, transparency in the use of public funds, and oversight of government programs in aid of legislation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE BLUE RIBBON--GATCHALIAN BLOC

Vivienne Gulla

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/178392522611820260608-senate-blue-ribbon-gatchalian-bloc-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="NBI Director Melvin Matibag attends a meeting called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of the Gatchalian bloc at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. The committee tackled issues involving government accountability, transparency in the use of public funds, and oversight of government programs in aid of legislation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">NBI Director Melvin Matibag attends a meeting called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of the Gatchalian bloc at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. The committee tackled issues involving government accountability, transparency in the use of public funds, and oversight of government programs in aid of legislation.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2ND UPDATE)</strong> — National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag will testify before the impeachment court of Vice President Sara Duterte next Monday, July 20. </p><p>The House prosecution initially requested that Matibag appear on Tuesday, July 14, sooner than initially thought, because of an invitation from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for a regional summit.  </p><p>At the beginning of the fourth day of Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial, Iloilo Third District Rep. Lorenz Defensor — a House prosecutor — manifested that Matibag submitted a letter to the prosecution requesting his appearance before the court be scheduled at the earliest setting. </p><p>Defensor said Matibag “has been invited by the FBI in coordination with the Royal Thai police for a Regional Summit on Scam Center Compounds and Transnational Organized Crime” in Bangkok, Thailand on July 21-22.  </p><p>The House prosecutor said Duterte’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and Capt. Belinda Bello — executive director of the Legislative Security Bureau, Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives — will follow as originally planned. </p><p>“Should we not finish his testimony on Monday, it shall be continued on the next trial date until the cross-examination, redirect, and if at all, recross shall have been finished by the parties,” Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the trial presiding officer, said.   </p><p>During the request’s discussion, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said granting the request may jeopardize senator-judges’ preparation for the hearings. </p><p>“Kung bigla hong may isisingit na testigo, hindi ho rin makakahanda yung ating mga senator-judges sa kanilang pagtatanong. Hindi rin mababasa yung mga dokumento at ebidensiya na nakakabit sa testigong ihaharap,” Gatchalian said.  </p><p>(If a witness jumps the line, the senator-judges will not be prepared to ask their questions. They will not be able to read the documents and look at the evidence associated with that witness.)</p><p>The defense also objected to the prosecution&#x27;s request, saying it is a violation of the impeachment court’s five-day notice rule. </p><p>Defense counsel Mark Vinluan added: “The prosecution cannot compel the defense and this impeachment court to present witnesses according to their schedules considering that these witnesses have been identified and determined.”</p><p>The court also confirmed that Matibag has not yet been issued a subpoena. </p><p>Escudero ordered the prosecution to submit Matibag’s letter and other documents related to the request, saying the court will rule before the day ends.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/-a-threat-is-a-threat-what-to-expect-on-day-4-of-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-0754">&#x27;A threat is a threat&#x27;: What to expect on day 4 of VP Sara impeachment trial</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>2ND PROSECUTION WITNESS</strong></div><p>On Monday, the prosecution presented NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who headed the agency&#x27;s cybercrime division in 2024 when Duterte issued the alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>The House prosecution panel said Lotoc’s testimony will bolster the earlier testimony of NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.</p><p>“Ilalatag naman niya (Lotoc) ano ang mga investigation na ginawa ng NBI kaugnay dito sa mga pagbabanta na ginawa ng respondent,” House panel legal spokesperson and counsel for the prosecutors, Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said.</p><p>“Ito ‘yung tatahi sa naging pahayag last week ni Mr. Calilung last week,” House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/wrap-prosecution-presents-videos-nbi-agent-on-duterte-s-alleged-threats-vs-marcos-2126">WRAP: Prosecution presents videos, NBI agent on Duterte’s alleged threats vs. Marcos</a></div><p>“Para mas mapalakas at mapatibay pa ‘yung statements <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/who-is-john-mark-calilung-the-first-witness-on-vp-duterte-s-trial-1441">John Mark Calilung</a> made… Ito ay magbibigay ng mas matibay na pwersa,” panel spokesperson Ace Barbers also said.</p><p>The prosecution also said Lopez’s testimony will be relevant because “she was there when these utterances were made.” </p><p>“Kung pinatawag siya as witness magiging relevant ang testimony niya dahil nandoon din siya sa same room, same place kung kailan ito ginawa itong mga pananakot at pagbabanta,” Tolosa explained.</p><div> </div><div><strong>IF DUTERTE ATTENDS</strong></div><p>The prosecution said Duterte’s potential attendance in the trial when Lopez is called to the stand will not make any difference in their strategy.</p><p>“Regardless of who will be there, respondent or anyone else, the strategy of the prosecution remains the same, that we will present evidence in a proper, efficient and effective manner,” Tolosa said.</p><p>“Nobody gets intimidated. Ang pinag-uusapan proseso ng trial, pananagutan ng trial,” Adiong stressed.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega, for his part, said he will be “grateful” if the Vice President attends her trial.</p><p>“Ako, magpapasalamat ako siguro. Thank you ha, nakadalo ka sa trial of the century. Malaking bagay na nandito kayo kasi matagal na itong inaabangan, saka nasa tamang forum na tayo para masagot ‘yung mga katanungan at mga allegations sa kanya. So thank you, ma&#x27;am. Salamat,” he said.</p><p>Asked whether the trial can be completed before Christmas, the prosecution gave this response.</p><p>“We will work for it na making sure that this could be expedited again to the extent reasonably possible. Syempre hindi din naman pinag-uusapan itong pabilisan, ang importante rin naman dito mailatag ng mabuti ang ebidensya dahil napaka seryoso ang pinag uusapan natin na mga charges dito. So at the same time we are cognizant to the fact na gusto natin pare-pareho mas matapos ito ng mas madaling panahon so susubukan natin iyan,” Tolosa said.</p><p>“Itong Article 4 baka posibleng mas maikli siya sa inaasahan. Kasi yari talaga dito sa threats. Yaring-yari sila dito,” Ortega said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/duterte-defense-team-to-present-witness-to-prove-operation-romanov-exists-1458">Duterte defense team to present witness to prove &#x27;Operation Romanov&#x27; exists</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RIPE FOR ADJUDICATION</strong></div><p>Raising before the Supreme Court the voting threshold on getting a conviction in the impeachment trial is not a priority for the prosecution, but Barbers said it would be a “welcome development” if anyone files a petition before the high court to resolve the matter.</p><p>“The prosecution is not involved in the political arithmetic, so to speak, ayaw natin ‘yan, dahil hindi pa naman siguro panahon. But if anyone raises this before the Supreme Court, then it’s a welcome development. Whatever the decision of the court will be, of course the prosecution panel will respect that,” Barbers said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/impeachment-conviction-threshold-not-yet-ripe-for-sc-challenge-de-lima-1602">Impeachment conviction threshold &#x27;not yet ripe&#x27; for SC challenge—De Lima</a></div><p>House impeachment prosecutor Ysabel Zamora believes the issue is “ripe for adjudication”, noting that any citizen has the option to raise the matter before the Supreme Court.</p><p>“The issue is ripe for adjudication… We have to settle it once and for all… kasi eventually magbobotohan na rin... 16 is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. What we have is just 2/3 of all members. So the fact that 2/3 was used means that it’s movable,” Zamora said.</p><p>She said the prosecution will no longer raise the matter before the impeachment court.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPGAXK-K1Ns?si=gVoRavWbTR0udyYA" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag will testify before the impeachment court of Vice President Sara Duterte next Monday, July 20.</p>

National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag will testify before the impeachment court of Vice President Sara Duterte next Monday, July 20.

Matibag to testify before impeachment court on July 20

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Matibag to testify before impeachment court on July 20

Marilyn Cahatol,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 03:14 PM PHT

|

Updated July 13, 2026 08:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

impeachment court

Melvin Matibag

National Bureau of Investigation

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.