This is only a partial update. The hearing is currently on recess and will continue after.
SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: DAY 8 NOTES SO FAR
• The impeachment court continued hearing evidence under Article IV, involving the alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
• National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag testified as the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV.
• Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero admonished Matibag over statements that could affect the independence or integrity of senator-judges.
• Escudero said the issue raised by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano concerning Matibag’s previous statements would be referred to the Senate Rules Committee and handled separately from the impeachment proceeding.
• Matibag discussed the NBI’s creation of a special task force to investigate the alleged threats against President Marcos.
• Matibag described the threat being investigated by the NBI as “serious, active, and continuing.”
• He said the NBI viewed a threat against the President as a national security concern.
• Vice President Sara Duterte remains the subject of a continuing NBI investigation connected to the alleged threats.
• Matibag used the term “kinetic force” in describing what the NBI believed Duterte’s statements could produce, including fear and the possibility of influencing other threatening statements or actions.
• This was the NBI’s assessment presented as evidence. The impeachment court has not made a finding adopting that assessment.
• The prosecution presented footage of the 2011 incident in which Duterte, then Davao City mayor, punched court sheriff Abe Andres during a demolition.
• Matibag referred to the incident while discussing what the NBI considered an alleged “pattern of violence.”
• The 2011 punching incident happened, but its relevance to the current impeachment charge is part of the prosecution’s case and has not been determined by the impeachment court.
• Matibag also discussed statements attributed to Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. ("Isang ulo lang naman ang kailangan namin.")
• He said the NBI saw similarities between statements made by Vice President Duterte and her brother while assessing the alleged security threat.
• Article IV has not yet been concluded.
Will add more notes as the hearing continues.