Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo confronted the defense team on July 13, during the ongoing impeachment trial, demanding clarity over a supposed plot dubbed "Operation Romanov" aimed at eliminating Vice President Sara Duterte and her family. 

“You said, and I quote, ‘The truth of the matter is this. She and her family were threatened and while her response is unconventional, it was justified. What triggered her response was a question about Operation Romanov. Which is the plan to eliminate VP Sara and her family,’” Senator-judge Tulfo asked the defense.

Tulfo pressed defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan on whether the team plans to summon a vlogger known as Princess Maui to the witness stand to testify about the alleged conspiracy.

During the sharp exchange, Tulfo quoted Vinluan’s own previous statements defending an individual's "unconventional" but allegedly justified response after being triggered by questions surrounding the plot. 

"Now, Atty. Vinluan, this Operation Romanov that you mentioned, are you referring to the Operation Romanov mentioned by vlogger Princess Maui during the online press conference?" Tulfo asked, forcing the defense to address the viral online claims within the formal halls of the senate.

Vinluan confirmed the connection but kept the defense's strategy under wraps, stating that the decision to officially call Princess Maui as a witness hinges entirely on how the prosecution builds its case moving forward. 

"Yes. Your honor, at this point, it will depend on what will be established by the prosecution. The defense reserves its right to call or not call any witness," Atty. Vinluan replied to end the query of the Senator-judge.

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PASAY CITY—National Bureau of Investigation BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc testified that the public remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte regarding a contracted hitman were serious, actual, and posed a real threat. 

Lotoc’s assessment came during an intense questioning session by prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, who pressed the security official for his direct impression of the Vice President's highly publicized declarations.

The defense team launched a swift objection to the line of questioning, with Atty. Mark Vinluan arguing that Ligutan’s query solicited a mere opinion and was inherently leading. 

Vinluan emphasized that the Vice President never explicitly used the word "assassin" in her statements. 

However, Ligutan countered that both the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) had formally adopted the term when evaluating the situation. 

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero ultimately overruled the defense’s objection, clearing the way for the NBI Regional Director to deliver his assessment.

Lotoc explained that the bureau arrived at its conclusion after a thorough content and context analysis of Duterte’s public utterances on October 18 and November 23, 2024. 

"The utterances made by the Vice President was serious and the threat was real and actual," NBI Regional Director Lotoc andwered.

He stated that the investigation factored in the alarmed reactions of the threat recipients and various state agencies. 

According to Lotoc, the NBI’s analysis scrutinized the literal meaning of the statements, the specific nature of the instructions given, the delivery and manner of speech, and the complex political relationship shared between the involved parties.

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PASAY CITY—The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte accelerated sharply on July 13 as prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan called NBI-BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc to the stand. 

Serving as the crucial second witness for the fourth article of impeachment focusing on grave threats, Lotoc's testimony directly targets the VP's controversial declarations. 

Ligutan established that Lotoc, an experienced lawyer who spearheaded the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) Cybercrime Division in 2024, possesses the technical and legal expertise required to validate the core evidence of the prosecution's case.

“Jeremy Lotoc is a lawyer by profession, and he was the Chief of the Cybercrime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation or NBI in 2024.” Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan said on his opening statement as the prosecution presented its second witness. 

Lotoc testified that the NBI mobilized its investigation on November 23, 2024, the exact same day Vice President Duterte hosted a fiery online media briefing. 

During that broadcast, Duterte openly declared that she had contracted an assassin to eliminate the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the First Lady, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives if a separate, unspecified plot against her succeeded. 

“Kasama siya sa NBI team na nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon sa mga pagbabanta ng bise presidente na ginawa sa isang online media briefing noong Nobyembre 23 taong 2024 kung saan dineklara ng bise presidente na siya ay kumontrata na ng isang tao para patayin ang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, ang unang ginang, at ang dating Speaker ng House of Representatives.” Atty. Ligutan continued.

Lotoc's presence on the specialized NBI team ensured that the digital footprint and broadcast delivery of these statements were immediately preserved and analyzed.

The prosecution hit its stride when Ligutan revealed the definitive conclusion of the state's cyber investigation: the NBI officially determined that the Vice President's televised death threats were both serious and real. 

“Napag-alaman ng NBI na ang mga pagbabanta ng Bise Presidente ay seryoso at totoo.” The lawyer for the prosecution concluded.

By transforming a public broadcast into a verified criminal file, Lotoc’s testimony directly connects the defense's downplayed rhetoric to a formal national security assessment.

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PASAY CITY—The prosecution panel in the ongoing day 4 of impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte sparked intense debate on July 13 after requesting to fast-track the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag. 

House prosecutor Representative Lorenz Defensor moved to place Matibag on the witness stand on July 14, ahead of Office of the Vice President (OVP) former Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez. 

The sudden shift came after Matibag lettered the panel requesting an early schedule before July 20, citing an official commitment abroad from July 21 to 22.

The defense panel immediately blocked the motion, slamming it as a direct violation of the impeachment court’s directives and the standard five-day witness rule. 

Defense lawyers argued the abrupt change compromises their right to a proper cross-examination and demanded a copy of Matibag’s official travel invitation for verification. 

Senator-judges also voiced strong objections, with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano calling the prosecution's last-minute maneuvering in "bad taste," while Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian warned that sudden witness substitutions severely disrupt the preparation of all parties involved.

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero cooled the chamber by clarifying that Matibag has not even been formally subpoenaed by the court yet. 

Deferring a final ruling on the matter, Escudero ordered the prosecution to present the official documentation submitted by the NBI chief to verify his travel claims. 

For now, the trial's scheduled lineup hangs in the balance as the court reviews the prosecution's appeal.

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MANILA—The Paco Arena erupted in sheer electricity on July 8, as the PhilHealth Health Insurers delivered a spectacular opening statement in Game 1 of the UVL Season 4 Finals. 

In a thrilling, high-stakes battle, PhilHealth neutralized the explosive firepower of the BFP Lady Firefighters to claim a decisive 3-1 victory (25-18, 15-25, 25-22, 25-20). 

The triumph puts the Health Insurers firmly in the driver's seat of this intense best-of-three championship series, shifting all the pressure onto their formidable opponents.

The definitive anchor of PhilHealth's masterclass was libero Trixie Marie Laroga, who deservingly took home Player of the Game honors after a phenomenal defensive display. 

Standing as an impenetrable wall, Laroga remained locked in and alert through every rally, routinely shattering BFP's most critical and thunderous attacks to keep the ball alive. 

"Sabi lang po ng coach namin, composed ako kasi ako yung first line of defense ng aming team," Laroga shared after her game-changing performance. 

Her unwavering composure allowed PhilHealth to consistently dictate the tempo, seize control of the court, and successfully deflate the Lady Firefighters' offensive surges.

With history hanging in the balance, the ultimate question remains: can the relentless PhilHealth Health Insurers close out the series and capture their first-ever UVL championship, or will the resilient BFP Lady Firefighters find their spark to force a winner-take-all Game 3? 

The drama unfolds next at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City for a pivotal Game 2 on July 12, 2026. 

Do not miss a single second of this epic volleyball showdown—witness the action live and see who claims the ultimate crown of UNTV Sport and Charity.

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