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Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. (left) and Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong explain the House prosecution’s points in the impeachment trial during a press conference on Monday. (Lino Santos)
The House prosecution panel on Monday urged the Senate impeachment court to focus on the evidence to be presented by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag regarding the bureau’s investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged grave threats, saying issues unrelated to the case should not distract from his testimony.
For his part, Matibag said he made no special preparation for his appearance at the impeachment trial, adding he sees no need for it.
The NBI chief said all he has to do was “to just answer truthfully,” just like what the two other NBI officials who testified in the previous hearings did.
House impeachment trial spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and House prosecution legal spokesperson lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said Matibag would testify based on his knowledge of the NBI investigation under Article IV of the articles of impeachment.
“Insofar as we’re concerned for the prosecution, we remain focused on making sure that NBI director Matibag will be able to share all material facts with respect to the topic at hand, which is grave threats,” Tolosa said during a press briefing ahead of Tuesday’s Senate impeachment trial.
“He will be sharing the important investigation conducted by the NBI in relation to this matter,” he added.
Matibag is the prosecution’s final witness under Article IV, which concerns Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution would limit its examination to matters within Matibag’s knowledge as head of the agency that conducted the investigation.
“Again, our focus is how to present him to the impeachment court based on his knowledge,” he said.
He said the prosecution would not present Matibag to discuss his other dealings with individuals because those matters are outside the purpose of his testimony.
Tolosa said the defense is free to challenge Matibag’s credibility during cross-examination.
“And that is their prerogative. They can try to do that,” he said.
He added that the relevant issue is whether questions relate to Matibag’s testimony on the NBI investigation.
Alonto Adiong said he is confident the impeachment court will distinguish between relevant and irrelevant questions under the Senate Rules on Impeachment.
“Under the Senate Rules on Impeachment, they know what to call out as relevant or irrelevant,” he said.
He said efforts to connect Matibag to matters outside Article IV would not be relevant to the proceedings.
“It is very clear that whatever they try to connect outside the discussion under Article IV is irrelevant,” Alonto Adiong said.
Tolosa said the court should focus on the evidence Matibag presents rather than issues unrelated to the NBI investigation.
“At the end of the day, what we need to examine carefully is the evidence he will present. All other matters are just noise. They have nothing to do with the investigation he conducted,” he said. — Maricel V. Cruz & Itchie G. Cabayan
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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net
