Matibag: What if Robredo threatened Duterte? She would’ve been arrested

NBI Director Melvin Matibag. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — If it were former Vice President Leni Robredo who threatened former President Rodrigo Duterte — the sitting chief executive during her time — she would have been arrested immediately like others who made threats, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said. At Wednesday’s impeachment trial of Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo tried to draw comparisons between the threats made by the Vice President against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the threats received by former president Duterte. READ: With or without contract to kill, VP made impeachable offense – lawmaker Article continues after this advertisement Tulfo noted that several individuals who threatened former president Duterte, including public school teacher Ronnel Mas who placed a bounty on his head, were all arrested — prompting him to ask whether Robredo would have been arrested too. “I’ll give you an example. For example, what happened now where our President was threatened, it also happened during the time of former president Duterte and Leni Robredo made threats — this is just an example, of course Leni Robredo would not do that because I know, it is not in her character,” Tulfo said in Filipino. “[For example] Leni Robredo threatened former president Duterte, and her outbursts and threats were intense, and the same thing happened; her daughter made a follow-up threat. What would have happened, do you think it is possible that there will be an arrest ordered by PRRD like what happened to the teacher, construction worker, and unemployed college graduate?” he asked, also speaking Filipino. In response, Matibag said that while it is a question that entails his opinion, he believes that Robredo would have been arrested also if the law is applied equally. “Well respectfully it’s calling for an opinion, but maybe I have a basis for this, based on what you said that a construction worker, teacher, were arrested because they made threats, it is possible, there is a possibility that the Vice President during that time may be arrested immediately,” Matibag said in Filipino. Article continues after this advertisement Prior to this question, Tulfo also asked Matibag why there was allegedly a difference in law enforcement agencies’ treatment of people who made threats, saying that Mas, a construction worker, and a college graduate who threatened the former president were immediately arrested, but Vice President Duterte who threatened Marcos and his relatives remains free. “Like Ronnel Mas, a teacher, and these three ordinary citizens, we will compare that with what VP Sara and [Davao City] Mayor Baste [Duterte] did to our President, threats, almost the same thing happened- but an iron fist was used when law enforcement agencies dealt with ordinary citizens,” Tulfo said. Article continues after this advertisement “Pero kapag makapangyarihang mga tao (But if it involves ordinary citizens), you treat them with kid’s gloves; why is that?” he asked. Matibag said he cannot comment on the behavior of law enforcement agencies during the past administration, but he agrees with Tulfo that all individuals, regardless of status, must be treated fairly when they are involved in alleged felonies or criminal offenses. The NBI chief also said that the reason why Vice President Duterte has not been arrested is that the case is still pending before the Department of Justice. “Respectfully your Honor, first of all, I cannot speak to the behavior of the law enforcement during that time, but I agree with you that the arrest of the individuals were made without warrants, that’s the reason why the cases were dismissed,” Matibag said. “With the case today, with what has happened, we go to the case build-up and file a case like what has happened to the Vice President, and if this will be filed before the court, that is the time that the court will issue a warrant of arrest. So we follow a process,” he added. Matibag was presented by the prosecution as a witness for Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns Vice President Duterte’s threats against Marcos, his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin, former House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Vice President Duterte’s threats came during an online press briefing on November 23, 2024. In that video, Duterte was asked by a vlogger to take care as she may be in danger. The Vice President then responded by urging people not to worry about her as she has already talked to a person about killing the Marcos couple and Romualdez if she herself gets killed. The defense panel has maintained even before the impeachment trial that Vice President Duterte’s statements were part of free speech. However, several government officials and prosecutors believe it was a grave threat — regardless of whether or not the Vice President executed a contract with an assassin to kill the three. Regarding the threats against former president Rodrigo Duterte, this is not the first time in recent weeks that Mas’ name was mentioned. Just this July 13, members of the prosecution team believe the correct comparison to the grave threats allegations against the Vice President is Mas’ case, as he was swiftly arrested for placing a bounty on former president Duterte. READ: Teacher regrets P50-M offer to kill Duterte Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Counsel for prosecution Benjamin Tolosa Jr. brought up Mas’ case after being asked about references made by Duterte supporters regarding the accusations against the Vice President and the threats complaint against actress and television host Kris Aquino in 2019 — with the Vice President’s allies claiming that Aquino was not penalized. /jpv