Jamaine Punzalan

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag holds a press conference at the NBI Headquarters on May 22, 2026. Maria Tan,  ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

INCITING to SEDITION CASE- VICE MAYOR RESPICIO

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/178462115717620260522-nbi-melvin-matibag-MT6 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag holds a press conference at the NBI Headquarters on May 22, 2026.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>2nd UPDATED</strong>) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday it had identified “persons of interest” in its ongoing investigation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>NBI Director Melvin Matibag is the last witness for the prosecution panel&#x27;s discussion of the article of impeachment that accuses Duterte of committing grave threats and inciting sedition when she said that she had arranged for Marcos to be killed should an alleged threat against her own life be carried out. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/matibag-sara-duterte-remarks-vs-marcos-a-threat-to-national-security-1559">Matibag: Sara Duterte remarks vs Marcos a threat to national security</a></div><p>“Mayroon po tayong leads na sinusundan at katanuyan, we have already established persons of interest na maaaring makapagturo o tumukoy sa taong kinausap ng ating Bise Presidente,” Matibag told the impeachment court. </p><p>“O maaaring isa rito sa tinatawag nating persons of interest ang siyang talagang nakausap ng Bise Presidente,” he said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/matibag-told-avoid-statements-pertaining-to-members-of-impeachment-court-1607">Matibag told: ‘Avoid statements pertaining to members of impeachment court’</a></div><p>Matibag said that the persons of interest could provide clarity to the investigation or point to the identity of the person who had allegedly been contracted by Duterte.</p><p>Being tagged as a person of interest does not automatically mean that the person is already a suspect in the alleged crime, he added.</p><p>He declined to disclose the identity of the persons of interest.  </p><p>&quot;Pag ang ganitong bagay na it’s an open and continuing investigation ay ating isisiwalat, unang-una pong mangyayari rito ay makokompromiso po ang ating imbestigasyon at mailalagay po sa alanganin yun pong ating mga tinatawag na informants o assets na nasa ground na nagbibigay sa atin ng human intel na tinatawag,&quot; he explained.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/-pattern-of-violence-duterte-s-sheriff-punching-incident-raised-in-impeachment-trial-1603">&#x27;Pattern of violence&#x27;? Duterte&#x27;s sheriff-punching incident raised in impeachment trial</a></div><p>Matibag said that the persons of interest possess &quot;information&quot; about the alleged plan to kill Marcos and his relatives.</p><p>&quot;Doon sa ibang persons of interest, meron po kaming kinokonsidera doon na maaaring siya po ang kausap mismo ng Bise Presidente,&quot; he told Senator-judge Sherwin Gatchalian.</p><p>The investigation of the NBI task force into the alleged threat will be concluded when the agency locates the person who was allegedly contracted by Duterte for the supposed arrangement, Matibag said.</p><p>He said he hopes to track down the person within three to six months.</p><p>Matibag admitted the bureau has no specific information on the identity on the assassin at this time. Nonetheless, he believes that Duterte had publicly confessed about her plans to have the president assassinated during her virtual press conference.</p><p>&quot;This is actually a public confession…nalagay sa alanganin hindi lamang ang siguridad ng presidente kundi ang siguridad ng ating bansa,&quot; said Matibag.</p><p>Asked by Senator-judge Bam Aquino about the credibility of Duterte&#x27;s alleged plan, Matibag said: &quot;One hundred percent po sapagkat siya na mismo ang nagsabi ng kaniyang plano na siya&#x27;y may kinausap na papatay, at pumayag yung papatay sa kanilang pag-uusap.&quot;</p><div><strong>-- with a report from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>WATCH:</strong><em></em><br/></div><div><em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UQL_9hIrrBQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></em><br/></div>

<p>The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday it had identified “persons of interest” in its ongoing investigation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos</p>

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday it had identified “persons of interest” in its ongoing investigation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos

NBI pursuing ‘persons of interest’ in Duterte’s alleged threat vs Marcos

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NBI pursuing ‘persons of interest’ in Duterte’s alleged threat vs Marcos

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

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Updated July 21, 2026 06:58 PM PHT

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