Matibag: Sara, Baste Duterte threats vs Marcos suggest conspiracy

NBI Director Melvin Matibag at the witness stand. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — The similarity between the threats unleashed by Vice President Sara Duterte and more recently, her brother Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte,” against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., suggests that there may have been a collusion to go after the chief executive’s life, said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Melvin Matibag Tuesday. Matibag made the pronouncement as he was presented by the House prosecution panel’s as its third and final witness in tackling Article IV of the impeachment articles against Duterte during the eighth day of her impeachment trial. READ: LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte | July 21, 2026 Article continues after this advertisement In the prosecution’s direct examination of evidence, Matibag cited two particular incidents where both Duterte siblings issued alleged threats directly against Marcos, the first being a recent speech made by Baste Duterte during the formal launch of the RAGE Coalition on April 12, 2026. In his speech, Baste said: “We only need one head, the head of Bongbong Marcos!” The second were Sara Duterte’s threats from a press conference on Oct. 18, 2024: “I want to remove his head off” and “I imagined myself cutting his head.” According to Matibag, the threats shared a specific similarity–both referring to Marcos’ head. “It is noteworthy that we can see that the threats against our President are coming from the same family and both refer to the head of our President,” said Maibag. Article continues after this advertisement “That’s why we wondered if there was a conspiracy in this incident, because as I mentioned on Nov. 23, the vice president mentioned that he had already spoken to someone to kill our president and he agreed,” he added. These threats, said Matibag, were determined by the NBI as “serious, active and continuing,” pointing out that due to its nature are both considered threats to national security. Article continues after this advertisement “Because any threat to the security of our president is a threat to our national security,” he said. Article IV revolves around the vice president’s alleged assassination threats against Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Should Sara Duterte be convicted, the vice president faces possible removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office. /mr