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Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag and Senator-judge Pia Cayetano. Photos from Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News (Matibag) and the Senate Social Media Unit (Cayetanos)

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

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/1784609664371000.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag and Senator-judge Pia Cayetano. <em>Photos from Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News (Matibag) and the Senate Social Media Unit (Cayetanos)</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The prosecution “respects” potential critical questions from several senator judges when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the panel said on Tuesday.</p><p>Senator-judges Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano last week <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"><strong>criticized </strong></a>Matibag’s alleged intimidation tactics after the NBI said it would investigate supposed irregularities in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which the younger Cayetano sibling spearheaded under the Duterte administration</p><p> “These matters are completely separate from the issues at hand,” Prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said in a press conference before the trial.</p><p>“We respect the right to post any questions that may be appropriate to the witness but at the same time,” he said.</p><p>The prosecution has adequately prepared Matibag as a witness, prosecutor and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno said, when asked if adjustments were made in their witness preparation for the NBI chief, who has seemingly caught the disdain of two senator-judges.</p><p>“Walang limit sa pwedeng itanong ng mag senator judges,” Diokno said.</p><p>“We will have to wait and see and I this afternoon.”</p><p>The prosecution has often alluded to Matibag’s testimony as “something to watch out for” and “something that you would not want to miss,” but has stopped short of confirming if the NBI chief would name the alleged hitman that was contracted to carry our Duterte’s threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>“Ito po yung magtatahi-tahi sa lahat ng ebidensya na napresenta namin tungkol sa grave threats,” Tolosa said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/impeach-trial-day-8-nbi-chief-could-face-intense-grilling-before-cayetanos-1005">Impeach trial Day 8: NBI chief could face intense grilling before Cayetanos</a></div><p>Matibag will be the prosecution&#x27;s final witness for Article IV, which pertains to grave threats. The article is largely anchored on Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s statements that she had instructed someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she were killed first.</p><p>Meanwhile, Diokno described the impeachment court’s <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/impeachment-court-subpoenas-duterte-bank-records-1730"><strong>decision to subpoena</strong></a> most of Duterte’s financial documents as a “big step” for presenting the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth</p><p>“We hope that there will be no obstacles to the continuation of the trial,” Diokno said, when asked if they were bracing for a possible motion for reconsideration from the defense.</p><p>“Makikita din — kung sakaling iaakyat yan - kung ano ang gagawin ng Supreme Court, especially yung ibig sabihin nung ‘sole power [of the Senate] to try an impeachment case,’” he said.</p><p>“I do hope that will become very clear for the future.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/prosecutors-call-subpoena-for-duterte-s-records-a-victory-for-truth-accountability-2138">Prosecutors call subpoena for Duterte’s records a victory for truth, accountability </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/impeachment-court-subpoena-for-duterte-s-documents-not-a-setback-defense-2018">Impeachment court subpoena for Duterte&#x27;s documents not a setback — defense </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/full-text-impeachment-court-s-bir-amlc-subpoenas-for-duterte-financial-records-1854">FULL TEXT: Impeachment court subpoenas BIR, AMLC for Duterte financial records </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QXC6xin-A78?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D__ZGRa2Ias?&amp;pp=0gcJCZkLAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The prosecution 'respects' potential critical questions from several senator judges when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the panel said on Tuesday.</p>

The prosecution 'respects' potential critical questions from several senator judges when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the panel said on Tuesday.

Prosecution 'respects' Cayetano siblings' qualms vs NBI's Matibag

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Prosecution 'respects' Cayetano siblings' qualms vs NBI's Matibag

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 12:48 PM PHT

|

Updated July 21, 2026 12:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Melvin Matibag

NBI

Alan Peter Cayetano

Pia Cayetano

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