Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

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/17847097605021784709758196.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Footage of a 2011 incident in which Vice President Sara Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, punched a sheriff during a demolition of shanties in the city. Screenshot from ABS-CBN News Channel on YouTube/File "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Footage of a 2011 incident in which Vice President Sara Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, punched a sheriff during a demolition of shanties in the city. <em>Screenshot from ABS-CBN News Channel on YouTube/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senator-Judge Christopher &quot;Bong&quot; Go explained Wednesday the context behind Vice President Sara Duterte punching a sheriff when she was Davao City mayor. </p><p>Footage of the 2011 incident where Duterte, then mayor of Davao City,<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/-pattern-of-violence-duterte-s-sheriff-punching-incident-raised-in-impeachment-trial-1603"> punched a sheriff trying to implement a demolition order in an informal settler community was played Tuesday </a>during her impeachment trial.</p><p>Go, during the senator-judges’ time to interpellate National Bureau of Investigation Director <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/profile-who-is-melvin-matibag-the-prosecution-s-final-witness-on-alleged-threats-1241">Melvin Matibag</a>, explained the incident happened during a demolition operation involving 217 families who were then dealing with the aftermath of a flash flood that killed 31 individuals.  </p><p>He said Duterte requested the sheriff to postpone the demolition, as the families had nowhere to go.</p><p>He said the flash flood happened on June 29, 2011.  </p><p>“At after a day, July 1, may schedule po yung sheriff na paalisin yung mga informal settlers na wala pang malilipatan,” he said. </p><p>(After a day, July 1, the sheriff was scheduled to evict the informal settlers who had no relocation site yet.)</p><p>Go said he “[finds] it proper that [he] shed light on this matter without any bias, given that these are matters of fact and based on personal knowledge.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/raffy-tulfo-asks-for-fairness-in-imposing-2-minute-speaking-limit-in-impeachment-trial-1605">‘Dapat maging fair’: Raffy Tulfo wants consistency in 2-minute speaking limit for impeachment trial</a></div><p>“We are not justifying violence, but we are highlighting that context is important to have a fair assessment of the incident,” he said. </p><p>He also noted that the 2011 incident was “different” from Duterte’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which the NBI is now investigating.</p><p>“In fact, not just this incident, in our search for the truth, importanteng alamin natin ang dahilan at konteksto ng mga pangyayari upang maging patas, objective at makatarungan ang ating pagsusuri,” he said.  </p><p>(It is important that we know the reason and context of events so we will be fair, objective and just in our trial.)</p><p>Matibag was presented as a witness by the prosecution in relation to the fourth article of impeachment, accusing Duterte of grave threats and inciting to sedition.</p><p>He said the 2011 incident was part of a supposed &quot;pattern of violence&quot; that the NBI considered when it evaluated and investigated statements that Duterte made in November 2024.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/wrap-few-fireworks-in-matibag-testimony-that-was-touted-explosive-2107">WRAP: Matibag testifies on Duterte&#x27;s alleged threats vs Marcos</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/V-ELTBw9uOM?si=jyCIL9e0BDDxXtR_" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Go, during the senator-judges’ time to interpellate National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/profile-who-is-melvin-matibag-the-prosecution-s-final-witness-on-alleged-threats-1241">Melvin Matibag</a>, explained that the incident took place during a demolition operation involving 217 families who were then dealing with the aftermath of a flash flood that killed 31 individuals.</p>

Go, during the senator-judges’ time to interpellate National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag , explained that the incident took place during a demolition operation involving 217 families who were then dealing with the aftermath of a flash flood that killed 31 individuals.

Go gives context of Sara Duterte punching a court sheriff in 2011

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Go gives context of Sara Duterte punching a court sheriff in 2011

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 05:28 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Bong Go

Melvin Matibag

grave threats

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