Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

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/178462066365020260608-senate-blue-ribbon-gatchalian-bloc-MT1 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><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 — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag was told Tuesday to refrain from making statements pertaining to senator-judges during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. </p><p>Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero, presiding officer of the impeachment court, said there is no need for Matibag to make statements “that may impinge upon the independence and the integrity of the court or the individual senator-judges.”</p><p>The NBI earlier said it has <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/14/nbi-launches-probe-into-alleged-irregularities-in-2019-sea-games-infrastructure-projects-2232">launched an investigation</a> into the alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects undertaken for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, in which Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano headed the organizing committee. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/17/ombudsman-to-review-2019-sea-games-files-1436">Ombudsman to review 2019 SEA Games files</a></div><p>Cayetano, in a manifestation made last July 15, said “he had nothing to do with the infrastructure,” and that the probe was a supposed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/-binabawasan-talaga-kami-iniisa-isa-cayetano-says-2019-sea-games-probe-aims-to-intimidate-him-1433">attempt to “intimidate”</a> him as a senator-judge, given that Matibag would stand as a witness. </p><p>His sister Sen. Pia Cayetano meanwhile said the supposed attempt at intimidation should not let pass. </p><p>Escudero said these statements made by the Cayetano siblings, as well as the video of Matibag discussing the investigation played last week, will be referred to the Senate as a legislative body, specifically to the Rules Committee for proper disposition. </p><p>Matibag stood as a witness in the Tuesday trial in relation to the NBI’s investigation on Duterte’s alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/prosecution-respects-cayetano-siblings-qualms-vs-nbi-s-matibag-1248">Prosecution &#x27;respects&#x27; Cayetano siblings&#x27; qualms vs NBI&#x27;s Matibag</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UQL_9hIrrBQ?si=aYUAdxdGf6JuNg3F" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" spellcheck="false"></iframe><br/></div>

<p>National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag was told Tuesday to refrain from making statements pertaining to senator-judges during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag was told Tuesday to refrain from making statements pertaining to senator-judges during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Matibag told: ‘Avoid statements pertaining to members of impeachment court’

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Matibag told: ‘Avoid statements pertaining to members of impeachment court’

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Melvin Matibag

National Bureau of Investigation

Senate

Alan Peter Cayetano

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