MANILA — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag told the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday that Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio committed “consummated betrayal of public trust” when she publicly claimed she had contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.
Testifying on the ninth day of Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, Matibag said the Vice President’s own statements amounted to an admission.
“The betrayal of public trust was consummated when she publicly admitted – there is already an admission — that she contracted a killer, mamamatay–tao or assassin to kill the President,” Matibag said.
“That itself is an admission…Why? Because the oath of the Office of the Vice President, sabi nya she will execute the law and do justice to every man. So, kapag nagbalak kang pumatay at ginawa mo ‘yan that is no ‘justice to every man’. It’s not ‘execute the law’ but execute the President ang gusto mong gawin dyan,” he added.
The defense moved to have Matibag’s remarks stricken from the record, but the impeachment court denied the request.
Lead House prosecutor and Batangas’s Cong. Gerville Luistro defended the testimony, saying the witness merely responded to a question raised by the defense.
“Ang depensa ang nagtanong kung mapapatunayan na nag-commit ng betrayal of public trust kung sasampahan pa ng impeachment ulit, at sinasagot lang ng testigo — consummated na ang betrayal of public trust dahil may kausap ng tao na pumayag to execute the President, the First Lady, and the House Speaker,” Luistro said.
During the same hearing, Matibag also linked the alleged harassment of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro in Vancouver, Canada to what he described as the “kinetic force” generated by Duterte-Carpio’s alleged threats against the President.
Questioned by defense counsel Mark Vinluan, Matibag said the incident illustrated how repeated threats could influence the actions of others.
“Well, ito na nga po ‘yung sinasabi natin na nagkakaroon ng malawakang kaguluhan na epekto ng madalas na pagbabanta at seryosong pagbabanta sa Pangulo, na ngayon na kahit na mga tao na ordinaryo ay inaatake po, hindi lamang ang Pangulo kundi ang iba pa ring matataas na posisyon,” Matibag said.
Asked directly whether the Vancouver incident formed part of the so-called kinetic force, Matibag replied, “Yes.”
He also said the effects could extend beyond the Philippines because of the widespread reach of social media.
“Lumalabas po na gano’n dahil marami tayong Pilipino na nandoon na at napapanood po sa social media,” Matibag said.
When asked whether all expressions of dissent against the government should be considered part of the kinetic force, Matibag said each incident must be evaluated individually.
“Depende po kung anong event. Kaya nga ang ginagawa ng NBI ay sinusuri lahat ng pangyayari. Kahapon ay nilatag namin ang limang batayan namin para magkaron tayo ng malinaw na threat assessment sa lahat ng pangyayari,” he said.
Matibag said the NBI’s special task force evaluates incidents using five factors: the pattern of violence, the gravity of the incident, the identity of those involved, the capability of the subject, and the person’s motive or intent.
Duterte-Carpio is facing impeachment charges that include allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes./PN
