Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago has declared his willingness to testify in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stating he will take the witness stand once the Senate impeachment court issues a formal subpoena.
As the trial reached its third day, Santiago expressed readiness to address the bureau’s prior findings.
Under his term in February 2025, the NBI recommended filing grave threats and inciting to sedition charges against Duterte following her public tirades against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. However, the Senate court has so far issued summons to the current NBI Director, Melvin Matibag, rather than Santiago.
Meanwhile, the trial’s evidentiary presentation kicked off on day two with testimony from NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.
The 31-year-old digital forensics specialist, who has been with the bureau’s Cybercrime Investigation and Assessment Center since 2024, recounted his extensive court experience, having already testified in at least 30 previous cases.
Calilung explained his involvement in securing a digital copy of a November 23, 2024, online press briefing held by the Office of the Vice President.
The broadcast, which was shared through the social media page of former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, contains the specific statements that form the foundation of the prosecution’s “grave threats” allegations against the country’s top leaders.