MANILA — A National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent testified Wednesday before the Senate impeachment court that he had no personal knowledge of the alleged hit man supposedly linked to Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, saying his involvement was limited to investigating a video containing her controversial remarks.
The fourth Article of Impeachment against Duterte-Carpio accuses the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and high crimes after she stated during a live online broadcast that she had hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
During cross-examination by defense lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa, Senior NBI agent John Mark Calilung acknowledged that he only became aware of the alleged threats after viewing Duterte-Carpio’s Nov. 23, 2024 online media briefing, which became the subject of the investigation.
“You only acquired knowledge about it when you started investigating?” Narvasa asked.
“Yes, sir,” Calilung replied.
Narvasa also questioned the witness about the alleged assassin reportedly hired by Duterte-Carpio.
“You also don’t have personal knowledge of the alleged assassin that was allegedly hired by the vice president?” the defense lawyer asked.
Calilung answered in the negative.
Later in the proceedings, Senator-judge Bam Aquino sought clarification on the testimony, asking whether the prosecution intended to present other witnesses regarding the alleged hit man.
“May I direct this to the prosecution. Will you be presenting other witnesses that will pertain to this alleged hit man?” Aquino asked.
“As to the alleged hit man, your honor, yes,” private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan responded.
Calilung clarified that his testimony was confined to the digital evidence because he had been assigned to examine the video of Duterte-Carpio’s statements.
The NBI agent, a digital forensic expert, said the Cybercrime Division began its investigation on its own initiative following instructions from the Department of Justice.
Questioned by Narvasa about his earlier statement that the probe was conducted “motu proprio,” Calilung explained that he meant an investigation initiated without a formal complaint.
When asked what he meant by a direct investigation, Calilung replied, “There’s an instruction from above, Sir. It may be the DOJ or higher.”
Pressed by the defense on what authority was “higher than the DOJ,” the witness clarified that the Department of Justice had ordered the investigation.
Narvasa continued to question the witness’ wording, prompting repeated objections from Ligutan, who argued that the questions had become argumentative.
Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero sustained the objection.
“That’s argumentative,” Escudero said. “I heard the answer, he (Calilung) meant, as a general term, above. But referring apparently to only the DOJ in this particular instance.”
House prosecutor Iloilo 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor on Tuesday said the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President will determine the standards of accountability and conduct expected from the country’s highest-ranking public officials.
During the presentation of the House prosecution panel’s opening statement on the fourth Article of Impeachment, Defensor argued that Duterte-Carpio’s public threats against the President, First Lady and House Speaker constituted a betrayal of public trust.
“At the heart of this impeachment proceeding lies a fundamental question para sa ating lahat: Can we continue to entrust one of the highest constitutional offices to a public official who, on multiple occasions, purposely and willfully, and repeatedly, resorted to threats of violence against the very institutions that she swore to uphold and protect?” Defensor said.
He said the case extends beyond the Vice President and centers on the values expected of government officials entrusted with the nation’s highest offices./PN
