MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team sought to cast doubt on the National Bureau of Investigation's paper trail in her impeachment trial Monday, July 13, pressing a bureau witness over typographical errors, mismatched docket numbers and a date stamp that appeared to have been changed.
The questioning of NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, the prosecution panel's second witness, shifted part of the cross-examination from Duterte's alleged threats to the documents the bureau submitted to the Department of Justice in connection with her October and November 2024 remarks.
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Defense counsel Mark Vinluan flagged that the docket number on the NBI's own copy, ending in "048," did not match the numbers on the DOJ's February 5 and February 14 certifications, which ended in "049."
Lotoc said he could not account for the docket numbers, saying he had no personal knowledge of them because the DOJ assigns and replaces docket numbers.
Document dates questioned
Vinluan also scrutinized an Investigation Data Form annexed to the NBI's initial investigation affidavit, pointing out that the DOJ's "received" date stamp appeared to have been altered from Feb. 12, 2025, to Jan. 30, 2025.
Private prosecutor Amando Ligutan objected, saying the defense was asking a misleading question based on an unverified premise. He said the defense had not established whether the document was actually tampered with or secured such an admission from the witness.
Although Lotoc had earlier said he had no knowledge of the form because another agent handled the filing, he was still pressed on whether the discrepancy indicated tampering.
He added that while recognized the issue, he could not explain it, adding that inquiries about the stamp should be directed to the DOJ.
Despite the discrepancies, however, Lotoc said there was no substantive difference in the statements reflected in the affidavits.
The documents refer to the NBI's findings submitted to the DOJ in connection with Duterte's alleged threats during her October 2024 press conference and November 2024 online press conference.
A docket number is a unique alphanumeric code assigned by the DOJ or a court to identify, index and track a legal case or complaint. A "received" stamp is an official marking on a document showing the date and time it was submitted to a court or government agency.
Article IV hearing. The documents are being presented in the second week of Duterte's impeachment trial, as proceedings focus on the grave threats and inciting to sedition allegations under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.