MANILA, July 8, 2026
Cross-examining the first witness
The defense cross-examined NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, the prosecution's first witness. Calilung had testified Tuesday that he personally preserved and authenticated the November 2024 video in which Duterte made threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
On Wednesday, defense lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa questioned how the NBI opened its investigation into the threats without a formal complaint. Calilung said the agency's mandate allowed it to act on its own initiative.
The defense's “oppression” argument
Narvasa also played a video showing Zuleika Lopez, Duterte's chief of staff, crying and denouncing a House committee for detaining her and citing her for contempt in November 2024, the same episode that preceded Duterte's threats.
The defense argued this reflected “systematic oppression” by the House.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked the defense directly whether they were arguing that threats from the vice president would be justified if her staff had been oppressed.
Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero stepped in, reminding both sides to avoid questions that would force lawyers into “conclusions of law and fact,” and Narvasa did not answer directly.
Escudero also reaffirmed, in response to a renewed defense objection, that a prior Supreme Court ruling allows prosecutors to present witnesses and evidence beyond what was listed in the original complaint.
Next week's witnesses, and a new subpoena request
The prosecution told the court it plans to call three more witnesses next week, all tied to Article IV, the grave-threats charge:
- NBI lawyer Jeremy Lotoc on Monday
- Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez on Tuesday
- House Sergeant-at-Arms official Capt. Belinda Bello on Wednesday
NBI Director Melvin Matibag may also be called later, depending on how the schedule holds up.
Separately, the prosecution filed a motion asking the court to subpoena a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue box containing Duterte's tax records. This followed the court's earlier order returning the box to the BIR for lack of a formal directive.
Escudero said the request will be handled together with a pending request for the bank records of Duterte and her husband, Manases “Mans” Carpio, with oral arguments on both set for next Wednesday.
Why it matters
Day 3 shifted the fight from whether the threat video is authentic to why Duterte made the remarks, with the defense building a provocation-style argument around her staff's detention.
At the same time, the prosecution widened its evidence requests beyond the threats charge into Duterte's finances.
