MANILA, Philippines – Pinagalitan ng Impeachment Court si National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag hinggil sa nauna nitong pasaring sa ilang senator-judges na lumilitis sa kaso ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sa ginanap na ika-walong araw ng paglilitis, nagbigay ng babala si Presiding Officer, Senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero kay Matibag nang tawagin ito sa witness stand upang tumestigo sa grave threats, inciting to sedition at iba pang kaso ni Duterte sa Article IV ng Articles of Impeachment.
“Director Matibag, the chair would like to remind and admonish you on behalf of the impeachment court to kindly avoid statements pertaining to individual members of this impeachment court,” ani Escudero.
“Without prejudice to any investigation you are undertaking you may do so, but without need of issuing statements that may impinge upon the independence and or integrity of the court or the individual senator-judges,” dagdag ni Escudero.
Naunang pinalagan nina Senator-judge Alan at Pia Cayetano ang pahayag ni Matibag sa pag-iimbestiga sa sinasabing anomalya sa infrastructure projects para sa Southeast Asian (SEA) Games noong 2019.
Si Alan Cayetano ang chairman ng Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).
“Investigate whatever you want to investigate. You want to investigate why I grew a beard? Investigate it. No problem with me. But don’t announce it because it will affect the integrity of the court,” ani Cayetano.
Sinabi ni Escudero na tatalakayin ang kisyu sa pagbubukas ng sesyon ng Senado sa susunod na linggo.
“The statements made by Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator-judge Pia Cayetano last July 15 pertaining to statements made by you and the video presented in the impeachment court shall be referred to the Senate as a legislative body and referred to the appropriate committees specifically the rules committee for its proper disposition and for the matter to be taken up there, and not in this impeachment court,” ayon kay Escudero. Ernie Reyes
