On the ninth day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the House prosecution panel wrapped up its presentation on Article IV of the complaint, which alleges that Vice President Sara Duterte committed a culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust by allegedly arranging the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and others.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag was the final witness.

Duterte’s defense team resumed its cross-examination on Matibag on that day after the Senate impeachment court granted its motion to continue proceedings.

During cross-examination, defense lawyer Mark Vinluan asked Matibag whether NBI intended to file another impeachment complaint against Duterte.

Matibag replied the NBI would not because the alleged betrayal of public trust aspect had already been consummated when the Vice President said publicly that she had spoken to someone to kill Marcos in the event she would be killed.

“The betrayal of public trust was already been consummated when she publicly admitted -- there is already an admission — that she contracted a killer, mamamatay-tao or assassin to kill the President,” Matibag said.

Vinluan requested that Matibag’s statements be stricken off the record, but it was overruled by the court.

Vinluan also asked Matibag about the document submitted by Arturo Lascañas, an alleged member of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), which the prosecution maintained was part of Matibag’s testimony and NBI’s investigation.

After the defense concluded its cross-examination, lead prosecutor, Rep. Gerville Luistro, informed the Senate impeachment court that the prosecution would no longer conduct a redirect examination on Matibag.

INTERJECTION

During his interjection, Senator-Judge Robin Padilla expressed hope that the prosecution panel would avoid being ‘one-sided.’

In response, the prosecution clarified that its role in the impeachment trial is to establish the case against Duterte, while the defense is tasked with representing and defending its client.

Padilla also appeared irritated after he was allegedly interrupted while making a manifestation. He was urging the prosecution to refrain from presenting witnesses who are facing perjury complaints.

“Presiding officer, bawal ang ginagawa ng nasa harap natin na nagkokomento. Hindi sila allowed mag-ingay, korte po ito,” Padilla said.

“I was interrupted,” he added.

Presiding officer Francis Escudero then instructed the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to restore order in the plenary hall.

In a press briefing after the trial , private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan apologized to Padilla.

"May I take this opportunity to apologize to senator-judge Robin? There was no intent to disrespect him. It is an instinctive reaction. Sabi mo, magkaibigan tayo, forgive na lang, hindi na kami uulit dyan," Kapunan said.

Padilla also challenged Lascañas’ credibility, asking whether a person who give conflicting statements could be considered a “liar.” He also claimed that NBI officials Jeremy Lotoc and John Mark Calilung, who both took the witness stand earlier, were the subjects of perjury complaints.

“Bilang pakiusap sa prosecution, puwede po ba na maiwasan natin ang pagbibigay ng witness na may kasong perjury?” Padilla said.

Luistro disputed Padilla’s remarks, saying the prosecution had verified there are no pending cases against its witnesses.

“With all due respect to the Honorable Senator-judge Padilla… we were able to verify already that there are no pending cases against the prosecution’s witnesses,” Luistro said.

"In addition, conviction is not ground for disqualification unless it is final and it is punishable by more than one year and that the crime constitutes moral turpitude," she added.

Padilla acknowledged Luistro’s answer but expressed hope that the prosecution would not be one-sided.

"Napakaganda ng inyong sagot, sana hindi one-sided ang ating prosecution kasi alam ninyo, pag pabor sa inyo....." Padilla said.

RESUMPTION OF TRIAL

The trial will resume on Wednesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. after the proceedings will be suspended on July 27 to make way for the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) and on July 28 for the “Kontra SONA.”

The court granted the issuance of new subpoenas requiring former Landbank branch managers Violeta Camposano and Nenita Constantino to appear before the court when trial resumes.

The two former bank managers are scheduled to testify on Article 1 of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on allegations that Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential funds – P500 million from the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million from the Department of Education (DepEd).

Luistro said Constantino will take the witness stand first, followed by Camposano.