VP camp accuses Marcos admin of political persecution over NBI probe

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday accused the Marcos administration of using the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to persecute her politically, calling the bureau’s findings on her alleged misdeclared properties a “shameless smear campaign.”

Duterte’s spokesperson, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s decision to publicize the alleged discrepancies in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) before formally informing her of the allegations and giving her an opportunity to respond.

READ: NBI chief details 3 more misdeclared Sara Duterte properties

“The series of press conferences by NBI Director Melvin Matibag on supposed discrepancies in properties declared in the Vice President’s SALN is just the latest example of the Marcos administration’s weaponization of government institutions for political persecution,” Panelo said.

He criticized Matibag for turning over the NBI’s report to the Office of the Ombudsman after publicizing its findings, rather than first allowing Duterte to respond to the allegations.

He claimed the move was intended to prevent the vice president from issuing a thorough rebuttal, noting that she had previously refuted Matibag’s allegations involving the Rodulfo Gracioso project.

“That is not the work of a fair and impartial investigative body. That is a shameless smear campaign against the Vice President using public funds, headlined by a man with a documented conflict of interest against her,” Panelo said.

The spokesperson also questioned why the NBI’s findings were not presented by the prosecution in Duterte’s ongoing impeachment trial, where allegations involving her wealth and SALN declarations are being examined.

“If the NBI’s findings were truly credible or reliable, then why were they excluded by the prosecution in the impeachment trial where alleged undeclared or misdeclared properties in the Vice President’s SALN are precisely at issue,” he said.

Panelo argued that the trial would provide an opportunity for the findings to be authenticated, challenged and rebutted by the defense.

The statement followed the NBI’s disclosure on Thursday of alleged discrepancies involving properties in Davao City, Parañaque City and Samal, Davao del Norte, that the bureau said were linked to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

READ: Sara Duterte’s lawyer: Matibag is evidently politically biased vs VP

Among the properties cited by Matibag was one associated with Davao Prime Bistro, with a reported acquisition cost of P10 million, and another in Parañaque City that the NBI valued at P14.4 million.

Matibag said the three additional properties were included in a 78-page report referred to the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.

Duterte has denied owning the properties and accused the investigation of being intended to derail her expected presidential bid in 2028. Her camp has also questioned Matibag’s impartiality.

Panelo maintained that Duterte had correctly declared all her assets and liabilities in her SALNs.

He added that Duterte was confident she could prove her position during the impeachment trial and, if necessary, before the Ombudsman once she received formal notice of the allegations./dp