NBI's Matibag cites Lascañas' affidavit linking Sara Duterte to Oplan Tokhang

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said Tuesday the bureau looked into an affidavit of former Davao senior police officer Arturo Lascañas submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which mentioned Vice President Sara Duterte's supposed hand in Oplan Tokhang.

On the eighth day of the impeachment trial, Matibag said the NBI Special Task Force evaluated the document as part of its investigation on the alleged "pattern of violence" by Duterte in relation to her alleged threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"Sa kanyang affidavit na 'yan ay ating nakita at inilalarawan at sinasabi ni Arturo Lascañas na ang Bise Presidente mismo ay kasama doon sa Oplan Tokhang, isa sa mga arkitekto ng Oplan Tokhang," the NBI chief said.

(In his affidavit, Arturo Lascañas said the Vice President herself was involved in Oplan Tokhang, one of the architects of Oplan Tokhang.)

"Dito niya rin sinabi na instead na barilin at patayin para hindi nalalaman ng media, ay kidnapin na lamang 'yung mga subject, mga shabu users o kaya ibang gumagawa ng krimen o nagtitinda ng droga at ibaon na lang sa isang quarry," he added.

(He also said that instead of shooting and killing the subjects so that the media wouldn't know, there was an order to have shabu users, other criminals, and drug dealers be kidnapped and buried in a quarry.)

In 2024, it could be recalled that Lascañas—a self-confessed member of the original Davao Death Squad (DDS)—accused Duterte of orchestrating Oplan Tokhang in Davao City during her stint as mayor in 2012.

The former policeman, speaking to media from an undisclosed location overseas, then said he submitted a 186-page affidavit to the ICC, which he said contains information on the alleged killings perpetrated by former president Rodrigo Duterte and the involvement of his daughter, the current Vice President, in the extrajudicial killings in Davao City.

A portion of the affidavit, which Matibag read during the trial, noted that Oplan Tokhang "and the evil side of its enforcement" were birthed in 2012 to 2013 by its so-called "author," then-Davao City Police Office Director and now-senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

The operations were all supposedly "cleared and approved" by then-mayor Sara Duterte and her father, Rodrigo Duterte.

The Defense had continuing objections on the reading of the document by Matibag, saying such "hearsay" may mislead the senator-judges and the public into believing the truth or falsity of the statement.

"It is highly improper, with all due respect, Your Honor, for this Honorable Court to allow the reading of a portion of an affidavit that was not authored by this witness. He doesn't know, he doesn't have personal knowledge, and he's not competent to testify as to the truth or falsity of these statements," defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan said. — VDV, GMA News