File photo of the impeachment trial proceedings at the Senate. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution’s request to present National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag as a witness for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial ahead of his scheduled appearance has been deferred, after senator-judges and members of the defense panel objected.
At the resumption of the trial on Monday, House of Representatives public prosecutor and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor said that they will request that Matibag’s testimony and questioning be scheduled on Tuesday, July 14, as the NBI head will attend a regional summit on transnational crime hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Thai Police.
Defensor was referring to Matibag’s letter, which was released to the media over the weekend, where he told lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro of his request to be presented earlier, ahead of July 20, which will be his departure for the regional summit.
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