Person files raps against users who posted argument with Matibag online

The person with whom National Bureau of Investigation director Melvin Matibag had an altercation over the phone has filed a complaint with the NBI against individuals who posted what appeared to be a video of the heated exchange that supposedly happened in 2020.

At a news briefing, Mel Sabio said he filed a complaint with the bureau for violation of the Data Privacy Act.

Matibag said they identified 400 accounts spreading the video, including bots and fake accounts.

This came amid a clip where Matibag cursed Sabio, repeatedly saying that his wife was pregnant and her stomach was hurting. He also told Sabio that if he were killed, there would be no evidence.

Matibag said he and Sabio have patched things up and that the incident occurred in 2020. He added that Sabio is now his partner in a livelihood business.

“Yung outburst ko talaga, tinawagan ko si Mel tapos nagsalita ako ng mga ganoon. But that was a private conversation. That is supposed to be between the two of us,” Matibag said.

(My outburst really happened, I called Mel and said those things. But that was a private conversation. That is supposed to be between the two of us.)

“In fact, okay naman na eh. After a few weeks, we patched up our things, nagkasundo kami ni Mel. Wala na ‘yan,” he added.

(In fact, it was already okay. After a few weeks, we patched things up, and Mel and I had an agreement. That’s over.)

According to Matibag, he and Sabio were friends at the time, and the altercation was “political.”

He said the videos started spreading since news came out that he would testify in the House impeachment hearings of Vice President Sara Duterte.

GMA News Onlie is trying to get a comment from the Duterte camp and will publish it as soon as it is available.

“Nung nangyari ito, 2020, I was serving under the administration of former President Duterte. At nung lumabas ‘yan, ‘yung mga nag-criticize sa akin ngayon, sila ‘yung unang nagtatanggol sa akin noon,” he said.

(When this happened in 2020, I was serving under the administration of former President Duterte. And when that came out, those who are criticizing me now were the first ones to defend me back then.)

“So your guess will be as good as my guess kung bakit lumalabas ito,” he added.

(So your guess will be as good as my guess as to why this is coming out.) –NB, GMA News