The House Committee on Justice has ordered the director of the National Bureau of Investigation and the legal counsel of Vice President Sara Duterte to appear before the panel next week as it advances its probe into the impeachment case against her.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag must appear at the committee’s April 14 hearing and bring with him all records from the bureau’s investigation into Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. The subpoena, dated March 31, also calls for “certified true copies of all documents and photographs gathered in the course of the above-mentioned investigation.”
The panel cited the need for the NBI’s findings to inform its deliberations. “For the Committee to be apprised of the outcome of the NBI investigation, and the information and evidence gathered by the NBI in the course of its investigation,” the order stated.
A separate subpoena was issued to Duterte’s lawyer, Atty. Michael Poa, who is required to submit documents that the Department of Education had turned over to the Commission on Audit concerning the department’s confidential funds.
Both orders were issued under the authority of the committee and carry the signatures of Justice Committee chairperson Atty. Gerville Luistro, Speaker Bojie Dy, and Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil. The hearing is set for 10 a.m. at the People Center, House of Representatives, in Quezon City.
The committee has already found two impeachment complaints against the Vice President sufficient in form, substance, and grounds. Those complaints charge Duterte with betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, stemming from the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, threats against the President and his family, and the accumulation of unexplained wealth.
The panel is currently determining whether probable cause exists to proceed with the impeachment.
