National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testified Tuesday that alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stemmed from members of the Duterte family, specifically highlighting statements from Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
Testifying during the eighth day of the Vice President’s impeachment trial, Matibag disclosed that the NBI assembled a special task force after concluding the remarks posed a “serious, active, and continuing threat” to national security.
Matibag pointed to comments made during an April RAGE Coalition rally, where Mayor Duterte stated,
“Isang ulo lang ang kailangan namin—ang ulo ni Bongbong Marcos.”
Investigators then cross-referenced the mayor’s statement with earlier remarks by Vice President Duterte from an October 2024 press conference regarding the President.
“Yung video [ng RAGE Coalition rally] ay amin pong naikumpara sa mga naging pahayag ng ating Bise Presidente kung saan meron din po kaming video na binalikan na ang ating Bise Presidente ay nagre-refer din po sa pagtanggal ng ulo ng ating pong Presidente,” Matibag said.
“Kaya nakita po namin ang pagkakahambing ng statement ng atin pong mayor at Vice President Sara Duterte,” he added.
Matibag noted that authorities are also probing whether additional accomplices coordinated or took part in the alleged threats.
Serving as the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV of the impeachment proceedings, Matibag addressed allegations that the Vice President betrayed public trust during a November 2024 virtual briefing.
In that conference, Duterte claimed she had instructed an assassin to target President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed.