National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag revealed on Monday that authorities have named several persons of interest regarding the alleged threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Matibag shared the update during his testimony on day eight of Duterte’s impeachment proceedings, taking the stand as the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV.
This charge centers on accusations that the Vice President made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in November 2024.
“We already have established persons of interest na maaring makapagturo o tumukoy dun sa taong kinausap ng ating bise presidente,” Matibag told Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, who heads the House prosecution panel.
The NBI chief noted that these individuals might lead agents to the alleged hitman or could have been directly engaged in the conversation themselves.
“Itong mga taong ito ay maaring magbigay-linaw o makapagturo sa identity ng taong kinausap o sa pangyayari ng pag-uusap o ‘yun nga maaring sila mismo ang nandoon o sila mismo ang kinausap,” Matibag said.
The case originates from a November 2024 Zoom press briefing where Duterte allegedly stated she had hired an assassin to target Marcos, the First Lady, and Romualdez if she were to be killed.
However, Matibag refused to name any of the subjects during the hearing, citing the ongoing nature of the probe.
“Hindi ko maaring isiwalat ang pagkakakilanlan o pagkatao ng ating mga persons of interest na ito sapagkat gaya ng aking sinabi, this is a continuing and an open investigation,” he said.
“Mailalagay sa alanganin ‘yung ating mga tinatawag na informants o assets na nasa ground na nagbibigay sa atin ng human intel na tinatawag,” he added.
Matibag stressed that revealing identities could endanger undercover sources and breach statutory rules protecting sensitive state information.
“Meron din itong kaparusahan under the Administrative Code na kung ang (isang) information ay confidential, secret, or top secret ay hindi ito pwedeng ibahagi basta-basta sa publiko,” Matibag said.