Abbey M.

Aside from the defense team, the senator judges also questioned an agent from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regarding Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged impeachable offense of grave threats.

According to the witness, the President or any high-ranking government official does not need to personally file a complaint before an investigation can be conducted.

NBI Agent John Mark Calilung, the witness, said his executive officer called him and instructed him to investigate a virtual press conference held by VP Sara on November 23, 2024, due to an alleged statement made against President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

He first watched clippings of the alleged threat before watching the full two-hour-long video conference. He reported this to his boss, which triggered a search for video patterns to check if the Vice President had made similar statements against the President.

NBI Agent John Mark Calilung clarified the investigation they conducted against Vice President Sara Duterte, which became the basis for the House of Representatives' fourth article of impeachment — grave threats and inciting to sedition.

In a clarificatory question from Senator Judge Erwin Tulfo, he asked about the NBI's authority to investigate crimes against high-ranking officials, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and Chief Justice.

According to Calilung, there is no need to request permission from such officials before they can act and conduct a preliminary investigation, and he said the NBI also has the authority to file complaints with the Department of Justice.

John Mark Calilung
Witness / Senior Agent, NBI
"If we found the evidence is enough that there is crime committed, we will file a case because that is the output of our investigation sir."

Senator Judge Erwin Tulfo
"Kahit po ba hindi nagreklamo ang biktima, in this case ang pangulo, biktima ng threat, kahit hindi sya nagreklamo sa inyo, automatic po yun?"

(Even if the victim did not file a complaint — in this case, the President, who is the victim of the threat — even if he did not file a complaint with you, is that automatic?)

John Mark Calilung
Witness / Senior Agent, NBI
"Yes, your honor."

Meanwhile, Senator Judge Allan Peter Cayetano asked whether, under this same system, the NBI also conducted an investigation into the alleged threat against the Vice President — especially since the Vice President's statement in the same video conference came after she was asked about the alleged threat called "Operation Romanov," which allegedly planned to wipe out the Duterte family.

Senator Judge Cayetano pointed out the conditional nature of VP Sara's statement.

However, according to the witness, he still considers it an absolute threat, adding that the National Security Council had earlier issued a statement considering it an active threat.

In questioning from Senator Judge Joel Villanueva, Calilung described how a threat could be considered active in relation to whether it would constitute an impeachable offense for the Vice President.

According to the defense, at the time VP Sara made the alleged threats, she was experiencing systematic oppression, as it coincided with the period when former Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez was detained by the House of Representatives after being cited in contempt in November 2024.

‍

The cross-examination of the prosecution's first witness, a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent, continued today at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The defense was given the opportunity to question the witness presented by the prosecution.

During today's cross-examination, the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the credibility and background in digital forensics of NBI Agent John Mark Calilung, as well as the accuracy of his transcription of the video allegedly containing VP Duterte's threat.

NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung faced a series of questions from the defense at the start of his cross-examination.

Early on, private prosecutor Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan objected to the defense's instruction that the witness answer only "yes" or "no" to its questions. The objection was overruled by presiding officer Senator-Judge Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

During the cross-examination, defense lawyer Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa was among those who questioned whether Calilung's transcript matched the actual words spoken in the video.

The defense played selected portions of Vice President Sara Duterte's online press briefing, which lasted more than two hours, held on November 23, 2024. In the video, former Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez can be heard crying and questioning her transfer to the Women's Correctional facility, while insisting that her life was in danger.

In the middle of the cross-examination, the prosecution repeatedly questioned the defense's manner of questioning. Private prosecutor Atty. Ligutan strongly objected, particularly to the defense's line of inquiry into Calilung's transcript, saying:

"Wala umanong kaugnayan o irrelevant na ito."

(This is allegedly not related, or irrelevant.)

However, Senator-Judge Escudero did not sustain the objection. He overruled it, stressing that the defense had the right to examine how accurate the NBI agent's documentation was.

During today's cross-examination, the defense also questioned the forensic software provider from which Calilung underwent two weeks of training.

Aside from this, Agent Calilung also admitted that their preliminary investigation proceeded even without an affidavit from the offended parties themselves — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

"Hindi naman required ang mga ito para simulan ang kanilang preliminary investigation."

(These are not actually required to start their preliminary investigation.)

‍

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as Cabinet Secretary.

As Cabinet Secretary, Abalos will serve as the President's liaison to other national government agencies, local government units, political organizations, civil society groups, and other groups on political matters.

Aside from this role, he will also serve as adviser to the President on various emerging issues in the country.

Castro laid out the office's mandate, starting with its primary function.

"Number one, assist the President by providing timely, relevant, and strategic advice on emerging national, local, and international issues affecting the political landscape."

‍

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the consolidation of plunder and corruption cases filed against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and his co-accused.

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division resolved to consolidate the case involving violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, or the prohibition against receiving gifts by public officials, with the plunder case currently pending before the Third Division against Senator Marcoleta, former Congressman Mike Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Aristotle Viray.

In explaining the basis for consolidating the two cases, the court pointed to their shared origin and the overlapping evidence involved.

"Ang dalawang kaso ay nag-ugat sa parehong mga pangyayari, sangkot ang parehong mga partido, at mangangailangan ng parehong mga saksi at dokumentaryong ebidensya sa paglilitis."

(The two cases arose from the same set of circumstances, involve the same parties, and will require the same witnesses and documentary evidence during trial.)

The anti-graft court further noted that merging the proceedings would help avoid conflicting outcomes.

"Makatutulong ito sa mabilis na pagpapasya at makakaiwas sa magkakasalungat na desisyon."

‍

Several roads in Metro Manila were flooded this morning due to heavy rain brought by Super Typhoon Inday.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), some roads in Navotas and Valenzuela experienced a slight rise in water level at around 6:50 a.m.

"Ilang kalsada sa Navotas at Valenzuela ang nakaranas ng bahagyang pagtaas ng tubig bandang alas-sais singkwenta ng umaga" 

(Some roads in Navotas and Valenzuela experienced a slight rise in water level at around 6:50 a.m.), the MMDA said.

The MMDA continues to monitor roads across Metro Manila as bad weather brought by the super typhoon persists.

Motorists are advised to be careful and to take alternative routes if necessary.

‍