Manila: National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday told the Senate sitting as an impeachment court that Vice President Sara Duterte's own statements about talking to someone to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. constitute a 'betrayal of public trust.'

According to Philippines News Agency, during questioning by Senator-judge Joel Villanueva, Matibag stated that the NBI's investigation into grave threats and inciting to sedition is distinct from its efforts to determine the identity of the person Duterte allegedly spoke with. Matibag clarified that investigating grave threats is within the Revised Penal Code, whereas planning to kill, unless executed, is not punishable under the same code. He emphasized that this issue is still relevant to determining whether Duterte committed an impeachable offense.

Matibag argued that Duterte's alleged actions were inconsistent with the constitutional duties she swore to uphold as Vice President. He referred to her oath of office, highlighting her promise to preserve and defend the Constitution and execute the laws. He pointed out that discussing the killing of the President contradicts the duty to execute the laws.

During his testimony, Matibag mentioned that only Duterte could definitively identify the person she claimed to have spoken to. He asserted that her public statements indicated an agreement to commit a crime, forming part of the prosecution's evidence under the impeachment article charging Duterte with betrayal of public trust and other offenses. Matibag was the prosecution's third and final witness on the article relating to the alleged threats against President Marcos.