Sara defense team ready to cross-examine NBI chief

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team is ready to cross-examine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, the last prosecution witness for Article IV in the ongoing impeachment trial against Duterte.

In an interview with One News, defense spokesman Michael Poa said that while they are already preparing for Article I, which pertains to the VP’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, they are also anticipating the prosecution’s presentation of Matibag.

“We watched his testimony before the (House) committee on justice. Of course, we are not discounting the possibility that there will be more to be added to what has already been said in the committee on justice. So, we will pay attention to his testimony and we will ensure that we will be able to effectively cross-examine Director Matibag,” Poa said.

Matibag is scheduled to take the witness stand on July 21.

“We are ready to test the credibility of the witness and not only the credibility but of course the testimony and what he will be saying at this time,” Poa added.

Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero has granted the prosecution’s request to subpoena two Land Bank of the Philippines employees and a House of Representatives official in preparation for deliberations on Article I.

To be issued subpoena are Legislative Archives and Museum Management Service chief Marivic Pareja; Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano, managers of Landbank Shaw Blvd. and Department of Education branches, respectively.

Meanwhile, Poa claimed that the defense’s series of objections during the trial is not a delaying tactic.

“We understand the sentiments of our countrymen even though they’re saying that this is a delaying tactic of the defense. Of course, we would like to assure the public that it is not. We will know if it’s a delaying tactic if there’s no basis for the objection… we object because that’s our job. And if we don’t do that, we will be waiving basically… it’s our right to object to such a question,” Poa noted.

‘Just doing my job’

Meanwhile, Matibag hopes reopening the investigation on the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games spending won’t affect his appearance before the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday, asserting that he is just doing his job.

Matibag stands ready to testify about the NBI’s probe into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged grave threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez.

But rekindling the issues hounding the 2019 SEA Games has already earned the ire of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who headed the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, and his allies, claiming that this smacks of intimidation.

“It also bothers me why they are saying that I’m threatening the senator-judges, and if they feel threatened, what will they do to me?” Matibag told “On Point” on Bilyonaryo News Channel on Friday.

“Of course, I’m hoping and I’m expecting that we will all go there to fulfill our mandate, and that we will all act professionally and as adults. I hope that non-issues will not be tackled there,” he added.

Matibag asserted that his job as NBI chief should not stop because of his scheduled appearance at the Senate.

“Doing my job should not be an issue,” he said. “I’m praying that the senator-judges will be fair. Whatever it is, I am ready to be there. We have a presiding officer and other senator-judges.”

House prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Terry Ridon said the public can expect an explosive testimony from Matibag on Tuesday.

“Our focus is to let him speak his truth, particularly on the entirety of the comprehensive investigation the NBI did on the matter,” Ridon said at a news forum in Quezon City yesterday. — EJ Macababbad, Daphne Galvez