CAYETANO QUESTIONS MATIBAG'S INTERPRETATION OF VP SARA'S STATEMENT

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano questioned National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday regarding the agency's interpretation of Vice President Sara Duterte's remarks in the video at the center of the ongoing impeachment trial.

During the Senate proceedings, Cayetano asked Matibag why the NBI gave weight to Duterte's alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. while appearing not to apply the same interpretation to the Vice President's statement that she herself could be killed.

"Paano 'yung proseso n'yo o 'yung naging thinking n'yo na itong ipapapatay 'yung Presidente, paniniwalaan ko, pero itong siya ang papatayin, hindi ko paniniwalaan?" Cayetano asked.

Matibag replied that the NBI's assessment was based on the portion of Duterte's statement that investigators considered to be an alleged direct threat.

"Kung sa grave threat po ang pag-uusapan natin, 'yung threat na 'yan is absolute," Matibag said. He added that, in the NBI's assessment, Duterte's statement, "kung ako naman ang papatayin," did not negate the agency's interpretation of the alleged threat against the President.

Matibag testified before the Senate Impeachment Court as the prosecution's final witness for Article IV, which alleges that Vice President Duterte committed grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The exchange underscored the differing interpretations of Duterte's remarks as the impeachment trial continues, with both the prosecution and the defense presenting their respective arguments before the Senate Impeachment Court.