NBI: Robredo Could Have Been Arrested for Similar Threats

In a recent ANC 24/7 report, NBI Director Melvin Matibag delivered testimony that directly compared the language used by Vice President Sara Duterte to what might have happened if former Vice President Leni Robredo had spoken the same words. The question from Senator Raffy Tulfo forced a straightforward answer — if Robredo had made similar threats against a sitting president, she could have been arrested. That moment on Day 9 of the impeachment trial shifted the conversation from political theater to the fundamental principle of equal application of law.

NBI Says Leni Robredo Could Have Been Arrested for Similar Threats — Day 9 of Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Manila, Philippines — On July 22, 2026, the Senate convened for Day 9 of the first impeachment trial of a sitting Philippine vice president. NBI Director Melvin Matibag told senator-judges he is 100 percent certain that Vice President Sara Duterte hired a hitman to target President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The prosecution needs 16 of the 24 senator-judges to convict on charges that include grave threats under Article 4 of the articles of impeachment.

The comparison to former Vice President Leni Robredo surfaced when Senator Raffy Tulfo asked whether Robredo would have faced arrest for identical statements. Matibag answered that she could have been arrested, underscoring how the same standard of law must apply regardless of political family or position.

NBI Testimony Centers on Actionable Intelligence

Matibag described "actionable intelligence" that placed the lives of the President, the First Lady, and the House Speaker in immediate danger. He confirmed he met with prosecution lawyers before taking the stand but denied any coaching on his answers. His statements focused on threats that fall under Article 4, which lists grave threats as one of the grounds for removal.

Prosecutors also introduced an affidavit from Arturo Lascañas, a former Davao Death Squad member, that named Vice President Duterte as one of the architects of Oplan Tokhang in Davao City. The document tied the alleged threats to earlier patterns of enforcement in the southern Philippines.

The Robredo Question Highlights Equal Application of Law

Senator Tulfo's question about former Vice President Robredo forced the NBI to address whether political connections change outcomes. Matibag's affirmative reply — that Robredo could have been arrested — resonated with viewers in Quezon City and Cebu who have long asked why accountability appears selective.

Community organizers in Manila's barangays noted that the exchange reminded ordinary citizens that the same penal code applies to everyone, from sari-sari store owners to national leaders. The moment shifted attention from personalities to the principle that no family name should shield anyone from investigation.

Defense Labels Testimony as Hearsay

Defense lawyer Michael Poa immediately objected, calling Matibag's statements hearsay and highly improper because the director lacked personal knowledge of any direct order. The defense team argued that the testimony relied on second-hand reports rather than firsthand evidence from the Vice President herself.

Despite the objections, the senator-judges allowed the testimony to stand, noting that the NBI's role includes presenting intelligence assessments even when they originate from field reports. The exchange revealed the tension between prosecutorial strategy and defense efforts to limit the scope of evidence.

Oplan Tokhang Affidavit Connects Davao History to National Trial

The Lascañas affidavit placed Oplan Tokhang's origins inside Davao City, where the Vice President previously served as mayor. Prosecutors used the document to argue that the same operational mindset allegedly extended to threats against national officials in Manila.

Farmers' groups in Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental watched the proceedings closely. Many recalled how Tokhang operations affected their communities and now wonder whether the current trial will finally address the chain of command that reached from local enforcement to the national level.

Human Impact on Families Across the Country

Jeepney drivers in Baguio and OFWs sending remittances from abroad expressed concern that political violence at the highest levels distracts from daily struggles such as rising fuel prices and school expenses. Mothers in Quezon City barangays said they simply want their children to grow up without fear that leaders might settle disputes through hired violence.

Students at the University of the Philippines Diliman organized small discussion circles after the hearing. They focused on how the trial outcome could shape the political environment they will inherit when they vote in future elections.

Path to Conviction and the 2028 Presidential Race

The prosecution still requires 16 votes out of 24 senator-judges to secure conviction on any article. Observers in the Senate gallery noted that the Robredo comparison may influence undecided members who want to demonstrate that the chamber applies the same rules to all former and sitting officials.

Political analysts in Cebu and Davao City already frame the verdict as an early marker for the 2028 presidential contest. A conviction or acquittal will shape how voters weigh candidates who carry the Duterte or Marcos names into the next national campaign.

Next Steps in the Senate Chamber

The trial continues with additional prosecution witnesses scheduled in the coming days. Matibag's testimony on the Robredo hypothetical has already entered the record, ensuring that the principle of equal protection under the law remains part of the public discussion.

Residents in Manila's Tondo district and rural barangays in Bukidnon continue to follow every session, hoping the proceedings will restore faith that institutions can hold powerful figures accountable without exception.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer