On the third day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Senator Robin Padilla raised sharp questions regarding the source and legitimacy of the video evidence supporting allegations that she made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Padilla questioned prosecution witness National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung about whether investigators had obtained the original video file or a sworn statement from the person who initially recorded the Vice President.
The lawmaker stressed that establishing a clear chain of custody is vital to verifying the digital evidence.
“Ayun kasi po parang narinig ko kanina, hindi po na ibigay yung original copy noong isinagawang interview kay Vice President Sara Duterte. Yung original po na kopya, kung sino po yung nag-record? Wala po kayong affidavit? Meron po ba kayong affidavit na nakuha?” Padilla asked.
Calilung clarified that his assignment from the Department of Justice (DOJ) was strictly to document the online footage as it appeared.
“Ang ni-request po ng DOJ diyan is affidavit po nung nag-screen record, which is my affidavit, Your Honor,” Calilung explained.
Dissatisfied with the response, Padilla pressed the agent on whether any effort had been made to reach the actual person behind the camera.
“Ah, hindi po yung mismong tao?” the Senator asked.
Calilung replied, “Yes, po. Ang hinihingi po kasi ni DOJ is kung sino yung nag-screen record through OBS, sir.”
Padilla continued to highlight the absence of unedited footage, pointing out that an untampered file is the only definitive way to rule out digital manipulation.
“Yung mismong nag-record po kay Inday, Vice President. Nakausap niyo po ba? Yung raw file po. Kasi napakahalaga po nun. Kasi doon po natin malalaman kung original ba o hindi,” he asserted.
When asked straight out if the bureau had managed to secure the primary source file, Calilung admitted, “The original, no, sir.”
The senator also touched upon the procedural timeline of the preliminary investigation, noting earlier findings that the initial complaint had lacked necessary requirements. Calilung defended the bureau’s handling of the case, citing a compliance certification that was eventually issued.
The tense back-and-forth underscores growing scrutiny over the integrity of the electronic evidence presented by the House prosecution panel regarding the alleged threats against the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.