Matibag: It was Rodrigo Duterte who first called Sara a ‘bratinella’

Vice President Sara Duterte. (Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP) MANILA, Philippines — After being confronted as to why he wrote columns describing Vice President Sara Duterte as a “bratinella” (spoiled brat), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag explained that it was her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte himself, who called her such. During the impeachment trial of the younger Duterte on Tuesday, Matibag was being cross-examined by defense lawyer Mark Vinluan regarding the NBI chief’s credibility and potential bias, when he was shown several editorial pieces uploaded on a local broadsheet’s website. After Matibag confirmed that it was him who wrote the opinion articles, Vinluan asked him why he wrote that. Matibag answered, saying that it was the older Duterte who called her daughter that way. Article continues after this advertisement READ: NBI chief: Sara Duterte influenced individuals to threaten Marcos “I’m showing you […] the editorials from the Daily Tribune, we have hard copies that you can refer to, but it says here Director Melvin Matibag, do you confirm that it is you who authored these editorials?” Vinluan asked, to which Matibag answered in the affirmative. “Now I’m showing you the first one entitled ‘Inday Sara, The Bratinella’ dated September 12, 2024 […] and you also wrote, ‘The Bratinella is a flat spare tire’ dated October 4, 2024 […] And you also wrote ‘Bratinella Sara and her bad habits, dated November 7, 2024, do you confirm this? And in these editorials, you shared your opinions against VP Sara, is that correct?” Vinluan asked again.“Well first of all, maybe the title ‘Bratinella’, that is not my original, in fact that’s why I wrote that is because I heard it when I was together with former president Duterte, that he called Inday Sara as ‘Bratinella’,” Matibag said. It is unclear when and where former president Duterte mentioned that to Matibag, but the NBI Director used to be a part of the Dutertes’ inner circles. Matibag used to be part of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, the party of the former president. Matibag at one point was also a cabinet secretary of the former president. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Lascañas’ EJK claims against Sara Duterte surface at trial However, the older Duterte’s criticism of his daughters — despite claims that she was his favorite child — was well documented. Last February 2026, Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro reminded the Vice President — after she was seen teary-eyed in Davao City — that her father called her a “drama queen.” Article continues after this advertisement The Palace was referring to an INQUIRER story in April 2016, where former president Duterte labeled her daughter a drama queen. The drama queen tag on the Vice President happened after the former president was criticized for making a joke regarding the gang-rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill in 1989 at a Davao City detention center. READ: VP Duterte’s bank docs may reveal more than AMLC reports – de Lima The older Duterte said it is a pity that the detained criminal suspects got to Hamill first instead of the mayor — him. This prompted reporters to ask Vice President Duterte about her father’s joke. In response, the younger Duterte told reporters on Monday that she too was a rape victim but was not offended by her father’s joke. But former president Duterte does not believe that his daughter was raped, because she always carry a gun with her. Eventually, former president Duterte said that he doubts his daughter’s statement, calling her a “drama queen.” Opinions and ratings Before Matibag was asked about his column, Vinluan showed a photo of the Tribune’s social media card showing Vice President Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s respective satisfaction ratings. Vinluan asked Matibag if these matters play a part in their decision to investigate Duterte. Matibag said it should not have an impact as these are mere snapshots of the people’s opinion. “You know that is a survey, and and all of us know and for the information of the public, a survey is just a snapshot of something, it doesn’t necessarily follow that this survey is already set in stone. Second, the NBI has a mandate, we cannot be swayed by public opinion or our personal opinion,” Matibag said. Vinluan then said that the reason why he brought up Daily Tribune’s social media card was because Matibag writes for the said paper. “My only question is before you testified today, there were already instances in the past that you shared your public opinions against VP Sara […] let me read one line from your editorial, it says there ‘As Inday Sara is being unmasked in the legislative inquiries and by her own mouth as an ill-bred Bratinella, her public trust crumbles. Do you confirm that you included this statement?” Vinluan asked. “Despite this position and the recent surveys show that VP Sara even gained positive trust rating, as shown earlier positive 57, do you confirm this?” he added. “Well again, I’m saying that when I wrote that, that is my opinion as an opinion writer,” Matibag replied. Matibag is the third and last witness from the prosecution panel for Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, or the allegation that deals with Duterte’s grave threats. Article IV contains Duterte’s threats against Marcos, his wife first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which came during an online briefing last November 23, 2024. As she criticized the House for detaining her chief-of-staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, Duterte was asked by a vlogger to take care as she may be in danger. The vice president replied by urging people not to worry as she has talked to a person about killing the Marcos couple and Romualdez if she herself gets killed. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. The defense panel has maintained that Duterte’s statements were part of free speech, but several government officials and the prosecution team believe it was a grave threat — regardless of whether or not the vice president executed a contract with an assassin to kill the three. /mr