MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation has narrowed down its investigation to fewer than 20 people as it works to identify the alleged assassin Vice President Sara Duterte contacted to eliminate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., NBI Director Melvin Matibag told the Senate impeachment court Wednesday, July 22.

During the ninth day of Duterte's impeachment trial, Matibag said the bureau is now focused on verifying the identities of the persons of interest linked to Duterte's November 2024 online press conference.

"May mga pangalan na po kami nito," Matibag said. ("We already have their names.")

The NBI has also reached out to the families and acquaintances of some of the persons of interest, Matibag added.

The NBI chief said the bureau's investigation stemmed from what he called an "extrajudicial admission" by Duterte when she publicly said she had spoken to an assassin who agreed to kill the president.

"Una, sinabi ko nga po with certainty merong kinontrata... Mismong ang bise presidente na publicly, which is an extrajudicial admission, na tinanggap na niya at sinabi na niya na meron akong kinausap na mag-assassin o mamamatay tao para patayin ang presidente at siya ay pumayag," Matibag said.

("First, I said with certainty that someone was contracted... The Vice President herself publicly made an extrajudicial admission, accepting and saying that she spoke to an assassin or killer to kill the President, and that the person agreed.")

Persons of interest

Matibag said the NBI is not limiting its investigation to the so-called Davao Death Squad.

He said the network being looked into includes active uniformed personnel and members of the Vice President's security detail.

"Meron pong mga aktibo pa sa serbisyo na men in uniform at kasama rin po dito ang Vice President Sara Security Group po," Matibag said.

("There are active-duty men in uniform, and this also includes Vice President Sara's Security Group.")

The testimony marked the first time the NBI publicly gave more specific details on the persons of interest in its investigation into Duterte's alleged threats since her November 2024 remarks.

November 2024 rants.Duterte made the remarks during an online press conference on Nov. 23, 2024, saying she had spoken to someone who would kill Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.

The alleged threats are at the center of Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust and other impeachable offenses over her remarks against the three officials.

Matibag is the prosecution's third and final witness for Article IV.