Joselito Malig

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Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan on Monday sought to establish a link between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the grave threat complaint the agency filed against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).</p><p>During the impeachment trial earing, Vinluan asked NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc whether President Marcos had control over the NBI and the DOJ. </p><p>Lotoc replied that, as President, Marcos is also the head of the Executive branch.</p><p>“At the time the investigation against VP Sara was being conducted, did BBM had control over the NBI or DOJ?” Vinluan asked Lotoc.</p><p>“Well, being the head of the executive branch - yes the president is the head of the whole executive branch,” Lotoc answered.</p><p>Vinluan then asked whether Marcos intervened in the NBI&#x27;s investigation, which Lotoc categorically denied.</p><p>“The purpose of the referral that we submitted to the DOJ is for the purpose of preliminary investigation which under the new rules of the NPS (National Prosecution Service) puwede ho ang law enforcement agency na mag-submit ng complaint affidavit kahit wala yung affidavit ng complainant for purposes of preliminary investigation,” said Lotoc.</p><p>“So the complaint from the president is not an indispensable requirement in so far as the preliminary investigation is concern by the DOJ,” Lotoc added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/nbi-exec-jeremy-lotoc-testifies-before-senate-impeachment-court-1514">NBI exec says Duterte&#x27;s alleged grave threats &#x27;serious and real&#x27;</a></div><p>Vinluan also questioned Lotoc on whether the President had shown bias against Duterte. Lotoc maintained that the NBI conducted its investigation independently and submitted its findings to the DOJ based on the evidence it gathered.</p><p>“Our investigation is evidence-based. Nung pinag-usapan namin ito, nung nag-follow kami ng mga analysis, we believed and we agree among ourselves na buo ang ebidensiya, kumpleto ang ebidensiya, na-comply natin yung requirement ng prima facie case with reasonable certainty and conviction. So sinubmit namin yan sa DOJ - ang paniwala namin ay kumpleto at na-comply namin yung requirement,” Lotoc answered.</p><p>Lotoc also said the NBI initiated a motu proprio investigation that included looking into the alleged threats against Duterte, noting that the bureau sent her a letter in December 2024.</p><p>“The fact that we send a December 2, 2024 letter - we informed the Vice President na ini-imbestigahan din namin yung alleged threat laban sa kanya so kailangan naming makakuha ng valid information, confirmed data or any apparent violation of our Revised Penal Code or any special law,” Lotoc said.</p><p>Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero later sought clarification on the scope of the NBI&#x27;s investigation, particularly its inquiry into the alleged threat against Duterte.</p><p>“In your subpoena of December 2…for evidence in a certain investigation - no mentioned was made or either pertaining to threats against the president or threats against the vice president but it’s the 2nd time you’ve mentioned that the intent of this one is for the threat against the vice president when the subpoena does not  contain such specification of the evidence that you’re going to obtain from her,” Escudero asked.</p><p>But according to Lotoc, the initial investigation focuses on the alleged grave threats and inciting to sedition that time and the investigation in so far as the threat to the life of Duterte it has a separate letter addressed to the vice president on December 2, and Lotoc said its not a subpoena.</p><p>Meanwhile, the impeachment court rescheduled NBI Director Melvin Matibag on Monday, July 20.</p><p>Matibag wrote a letter to the impeachment court asking to be excused for tomorrow’s hearing because he need to attend to an important summit in Bangkok, Thailand tomorrow, July 15.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/impeachment-court-tables-prosecution-s-request-for-matibag-to-appear-on-tuesday-1514">Matibag to testify before impeachment court on July 20</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div>

<p>Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan sought to establish a link between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the grave threat complaint the agency filed against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).</p>

Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan sought to establish a link between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the grave threat complaint the agency filed against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Sara Duterte's lawyer tries to link Marcos to NBI complaint

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Sara Duterte's lawyer tries to link Marcos to NBI complaint

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 10:04 PM PHT

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Atty. Mark Vinluan

Jeremy Lotoc

Marcos

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