‘Puntahan natin’: Matibag dares Duterte to show ‘misdeclared’ property
The defense and House prosecution panels cross-examine NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag as he takes the witness stand during the eighth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday challenged Vice President Sara Duterte to show the property that the bureau is investigating for possible misdeclaration, after she denied ownership of the land.
Matibag told ANC’s “Dateline” that it is difficult to call something a lie when there is strong evidence of it.
“Maganda po siguro baka sama-sama puntahan natin yung property nila kung may permission nila, para po makita natin. Ipakita po nila, huwag lamang yung salita,” he said.
(It might be best for us to go to the property together, if they give us permission, to show it to us.)
The NBI on Monday alleged that a property Duterte declared as agricultural land in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth has mansions, swimming pools and helipads.
Duterte early Tuesday disowned the land and said that the NBI was conducting operations for matters that do not benefit the public.
“That is her claim. Pero dun po sa subscribed na SALN niya at ating inimbestigahan, iba po yung lumalabas,” Matibag said.
(But there is a difference between what is in her subscribed SALN and what we are investigating.)
The NBI chief said Duterte should back her allegations with evidence, noting that the agency’s operations benefit the public as they concern the accountability of a high official.
Duterte also accused the NBI of “making allegations to trick the public,” including that made by dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that he delivered cash to members of the Duterte family on the instructions of former speaker Lord Allan Velasco, which she also denied.
Matibag said this was only her opinion but that the people will judge “at the end of the day.”
The NBI chief said the vice president was given the chance to address the allegations against her, but was only responding through press conferences and news releases he said were using “generalizations” and “appeals to emotion.”
He said that the NBI is “guided by evidence, by the process in accordance with the law.”