Sherwin Tinampay

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#VPOnTrial: Day 4

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPGAXK-K1Ns?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div><div>DAY 4: Monday, July 13, 2026</div>Today is the fourth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte with proceedings expected to continue centering on the prosecution&#x27;s presentation of evidence under Article 4 of the articles of impeachment.<div> </div>8:12 p.m. - The Senate impeachment trial court is adjourned and will resume on Tuesday, July 14, 2 p.m. 8:09 p.m. - The impeachment court excuses Lotoc. 8:08 p.m. - Senator-judge Juan Miguel Zubiri requests to adjourn and continue the trial tomorrow Tuesday, July 14, due to the lateness of the hour. 8:05 p.m. - Another document shown is the minutes of an interview of NBI agent Atty. Ria Vanessa Asuncion with a journalist who covered the November 23 press briefing. Asuncion did not affix her signature on the document.Vinluan: Wasn&#x27;t this a failure to observe SOP on your part? We are talking here about filing a case against the Vice President of the Philippines, who is the second highest official of the land, and you used an unsigned document as part of your exhibits. Lotoc says the counsel for the respondent can ask Asuncion.8:01 p.m. - Vinluan points out that it only took the NBI 33 minutes to interview one journalist who was present in the November 23, 2024 press briefing, says this was not enough time to establish context because the video alone of the briefing lasted more than two hours. Lotoc says the journalists were present during the entire briefing and were already able to hear the statements of the Vice President.7:41 p.m. - An NBI letter dated December 2, 2024 asked Duterte to appear before the bureau on November 11, 2024 to investigate the alleged threat against her, as pointed out by Vinluan. Vinluan: In other words, she could not have attended that November 11 meeting. Lotoc says he cannot answer because he was not the signatory.7:29 p.m. - Vinluan asks Lotoc if there was bias in the investigation against Duterte considering that the NBI is under the Office of the President. Lotoc says their evidence is complete and they complied with the requirement of a prima facie case. 7:19 p.m. - Vinluan points out that according to the law, the authority to determine the guilt of a person lies with the courts, not the DOJ and NBI. Lotoc says yes. Ligutan objects and cites relevance.7:11 p.m. - Vinluan says they want to know how the documents in question were altered, if at all. Escudero: There’s no basis for saying it’s altered.6:56 p.m. - Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo says there might be something wrong with the case because the preliminary investigation has been ongoing for over a year. He advises Lotoc to ensure that their cases are airtight. 6:55 p.m. - According to Lotoc, they first filed the complaint before the DOJ on January 30, 2025. The DOJ asked for certain requirements and the NBI resubmitted its affidavit of investigation on February 10, 2025.6:50 p.m. - Asked by Escudero if Vinluan is winding up, the counsel for the respondent says, &quot;Far from it, your honor.&quot;6:33 p.m. - Vinluan asks why there is a change in date of the Investigation Data Form attached to the affidavit of investigation. The document was subscribed to on February 11, 2025, but the date of receipt was supposedly changed to January 30, 2025. Lotoc says he cannot explain as he was not the one who handled the document. 6:23 p.m. - Lotoc says they did not revise their affidavit of investigation. 6:22 p.m. - Lotoc replies that the DOJ only required them to provide certain attachments like affidavits, which was why the department issued another certification dated February 14, 2025 that stated the referral was sufficient for the conduct of a preliminary investigation. 6:19 p.m. - Vinluan reads a portion of the February 5 DOJ certification which says the affidavit of investigation does not contain all the necessary evidence to prove all elements of the crime and the recommendation was for case buildup. 6:15 p.m. - Vinluan shows seven notes on the DOJ&#x27;s certification, particularly number 7, which says the NBI is not the offended party for the crime of grave threats. Lotoc replies that under their rules, the law enforcement agency can submit a complaint before the DOJ for purposes of preliminary investigation, and the requirement that the offended party should have a compliant affidavit is not an indispensable requirement. 6:09 p.m. - Vinluan points out a problem. The certification was received on February 10, 2025, but the stamp says February 5, 2025. Lotoc has no direct knowledge about the document because he was not the one who received it.6:05 p.m. - Vinluan asks Lotoc about a February 5, 2025 certification from the Department of Justice (DOJ) following the NBI&#x27;s submission of its affidavit of investigation dated January 30, 2025. 5:56 p.m. - Vinluan begins cross-examining Lotoc.5:39 p.m. - Senator-judge Imee Marcos questions the timeline of the NBI probe into the Vice President&#x27;s alleged grave threats, citing a subpoena dated November 6, 2024, and the call for investigation of Duterte&#x27;s online conference call on November 24, 2024.Lotoc says that there&#x27;s a typographical error on the date.5:23 p.m. - Cayetano asks Lotoc why he did not talk with other agencies investigating the supposed grave threat. Lotoc says he does not know if these agencies talked with their director.5:11 p.m. - Lotoc says the NBI Cybercrime Division conducted an open source investigation, but was not able to validate the alleged threat against Duterte. Because of this, Lotoc cannot comment whether there was an actual threat on the life of the VP. 5:02 p.m. - Trial resumes. 4:44 p.m. - The Senate impeachment trial court takes a 15 minute break. Trial will resume at 5 p.m.4:32 p.m. - Lotoc believes they have an airtight case because the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a certification stating that their referral complied with all the elements of the crime charged and is good for preliminary investigation.4:28 p.m. - According to Lotoc, the utterances of Duterte on October 18, November 23, and November 26, 2024 have the tendency to stir up people to go against the government, to disturb peace and undermine public order, which are elements of inciting to sedition. 4:19 p.m. - Vinluan denies the allegation that Duterte contracted someone, says they will present counter-evidence.4:18 p.m. - Lotoc says they tried to get information regarding the person supposedly contracted by Duterte, but they have not yet established validated information on this. 4:11 p.m. - Lotoc reiterates the NBI started its investigation on the alleged threat against Duterte, but because she did not appear before them, they had nothing to work on. 4:09 p.m. - Lotoc states based on their findings, they believe Duterte committed a crime of grave threat and inciting to sedition.4:07 p.m. - Lotoc adds that if they accept the argument of freedom of speech, then what would prevent others from doing the same?<div>Imagine, your honor, the anarchy the disorder and the chaos it would bring to our country. Freedom of speech protects lawful expression, but it does not protect utterances that satisfies the elements of a criminal offense like this one.</div>4:06 p.m. - Lotoc says they cannot consider the defense of Duterte that she was only exercising her freedom of speech. <div>When the second highest official of the land openly and publicly uttered that she had already contracted a person to kill the highest official of the land, the first lady, and the former speaker and that she instructed a person to be relentless in killing them, we fail to see any amount of freedom of speech in those utterances.</div>3:56 p.m. - Lotoc says the President took the utterances of Duterte on November 23 as &quot;serious and real.&quot;3:52 p.m. - Lotoc explains that the nature of Duterte&#x27;s alleged instruction to the so-called assassin showed she was determined to carry out her utterances. He says this is alarming for the NBI because some groups may take advantage of this.3:49 p.m. - Lotoc: Klaro po doon sa utterances ng Bise Presidente, even before the online press conference on November 23, 2024, the Vice President had already contracted a person to kill the Presidesnt , Liza Marcos and the former Speaker.3:37 p.m. - The prosecution shows parts of the November 23, 2024 online press briefing where Duterte hurled invectives.3:34 p.m. - Lotoc describes the Vice President as &quot;furious and fuming mad&quot; in the video, mentions she hurled invectives against the president, the first lady, and former Speaker Romualdez more or less eight times. 3:31 p.m. - Lotoc says they considered the following factors in their analysis of content and context — the delivery or manner in which utterances were spoken, the literal meaning of the statement, the nature of the instruction, and relationship of the parties.3:29 p.m. - Lotoc says they considered the utterances of Duterte in Nov 23 and Oct 18, 2024, as well as the reaction of recipients of the alleged threat and various government agencies. 3:28 p.m. - Lotoc: The utterances made by the Vice President was serious and the threat was real and actual.3:27 p.m. - Ligutan asks Lotoc for his impression of Duterte when she declared that she already contracted an assassin. Vinluan objects, says the question calls for an opinion and is leading because the VP never mentioned the word &quot;assassin.&quot; Ligutan argues that the PCO and PNP used this term. Escudero allows Lotoc to answer. 3:21 p.m. - The prosecution shows a copy of the subpoena sent by the NBI to Duterte. Lotoc confirms it. 3:20 p.m. - The NBI issued another subpoena to Duterte on December 2, 2024. Lotoc says they told the VP in their letter that the bureau wants to investigate the alleged threat against her life.3:13 p.m. - Lotoc says Duterte failed to appear because of office matters, but sent her lawyer. 3:12 p.m. - The prosecution shows a copy of the subpoena sent by the NBI to Duterte. Lotoc confirms it is a faithful reproduction of the certified true copy.3:10 p.m. - The NBI, as part of its investigation, subpoenaed journalists who were present during the November 23, 2024 press briefing. Lotoc adds they also sent a subpoena to Duterte. 3:02 p.m. - Lotoc recalls the reactions of various agencies to the supposed threat, says the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) called it an active threat. The PCO and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also used the term &quot;assassin.&quot; 2:53 p.m. - The October 18, 2024 video is played. 2:51 p.m. - Lotoc says they continued their open source investigation to determine if the vice president had same utterances in previous occasions. He says they found an October 18, 2024 Office of the Vice President press conference streamed through its Facebook page where Duterte said: Gusto kong tanggalin &#x27;yung ulo niya; I realized toxic na itong relationship; I imagine myself cutting his head. Asked by Ligutan whose head it was the vice president wanted to cut, Lotoc replies, it&#x27;s the head of the President of the Philippines. 2:44 p.m. - The NBI, in its analysis, established the intent, motive, and capability of the Vice President to carry out the threats she mentioned, according to Lotoc. The bureau also identified the individuals present in the press conference on November 23. 2:42 p.m. - Lotoc says he instructed NBI senior agent John Mark Calilung to preserve digital evidence or the video of the online press conference dated November 23, 2024 streamed through the page of Harry Roque. 2:39 p.m. - Lotoc recalls the words Duterte uttered in the online press briefing: Huwag kang mag-alala, Ma&#x27;am, sa security ko sapagkat may kinausap na akong tao. Ang sabi ko sa kaniya &#x27;pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Marcos, si Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke. Nagbilin na ko, Ma&#x27;am, ang sabi ko sa kanya pag namatay ako, huwag kang tumigil hangga’t di mo sila mapapatay, and he said yes. 2:35 p.m. - The NBI&#x27;s investigation on the vice president started on November 23, 2024, the same day of the online press briefing where the respondent supposedly made the threats, according to Lotoc. 2:33 p.m. - Lotoc is the current Regional Director of NBI-BARMM. He was designated as Chief of the NBI Cybercrime Division in February 2023. 2:31 p.m. - Counsel for the prosecutors Atty. Amando Ligutan says Lotoc&#x27;s testimony will prove the following:<ol><li>Jeremy Lotoc is a lawyer by profession and he was the Chief of the Cybercrime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation or NBI in 2024;</li><li>Kasama siya sa NBI team na nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon sa mga pagbabanta ng Bise Presidente na ginawa sa isang online media briefing noong Nobyembre 23 taong 2024 kung saan dineklara ng Bise Presidente na siya ay kumontrata na ng isang tao para patayin ang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, ang unang ginang, at ang dating Speaker ng House of Representatives at</li><li>Napag-alaman ng NBI na ang mga pagbabanta ng Bise Presidente ay seryoso at totoo. </li></ol>2:25 p.m. - NBI Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc is called to the witness stand.   2:23 p.m. - Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian agrees with Cayetano, says senator-judges need to prepare as well. 2:22 p.m. - The defense opposes the prosecution&#x27;s request to present Matibag tomorrow.  According to Vinluan, this will be a violation of the five-day notice rules of the court, and that the prosecution cannot present witnesses based on their schedule. 2:20 p.m. - Defensor says he was expecting to present Matibag on Wednesday, but will just advance his appearance by one day. Presiding officer Senator-judge Francis Escudero, replies, however, that Matibag is not on the prosecution&#x27;s list of witnesses for this week.  Impeachment clerk of court Renato Bantug, Jr. confirms no subpoena has been issued to Matibag. 2:18 p.m. - Senator-judge and Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano comments on Matibag&#x27;s request: I find it in bad taste that a bureau head will dictate to us that he’s not available next week. I was Secretary of Foreign Affairs. That’s why you have undersecretaries,  that’s why you have deputy directors. 2:15 p.m. - Matibag requested an earlier appearance before the impeachment court because the NBI has a regional summit with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the coming days. 2:13 p.m. - Rep. Lorenz Defensor, a member of the prosecution panel, asks the impeachment court to schedule National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag to take the witness stand tomorrow, July 14, 2026, after the testimony of NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc.  Defensor says Atty. Zuleika Lopez, Chief of Staff of the VP, may be presented after Matibag.   2:10 p.m. - Atty. Mark Vinluan, counsel for the respondent, says the presentation of Princess Maui as their witness will depend on the course of the trial. 2:09 p.m. - Tulfo asks the defense team if they will present the vlogger Princess Maui in the course of the trial. Princess Maui was the one who asked Vice President Duterte in an online press briefing last November 23, 2024 about the alleged &quot;Operation Romanov.&quot; 2:05 p.m. - Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo is recognized. 2:04 p.m. - 18 senator-judges are present.  2:01 p.m. - Senator-judge JV Ejercito leads the impeachment court in prayer. 2 p.m. - Senator-judges enter the session hall for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.<div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/live-updates-vice-president-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-day-3-1315">LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s Impeachment Trial (Day 3)</a></div><div> </div><div>Refresh this page for the latest updates on the impeachment trial of the vice president.</div>

Follow this thread for the live updates on the day 4 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.

Follow this thread for the live updates on the day 4 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.

LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial (Day 4)

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LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial (Day 4)

Victoria Tulad,

Sherwin Tinampay,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 01:58 PM PHT

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Updated July 13, 2026 08:13 PM PHT

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