The cross-examination of the prosecution's first witness, a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent, continued today at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The defense was given the opportunity to question the witness presented by the prosecution.

During today's cross-examination, the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the credibility and background in digital forensics of NBI Agent John Mark Calilung, as well as the accuracy of his transcription of the video allegedly containing VP Duterte's threat.

NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung faced a series of questions from the defense at the start of his cross-examination.

Early on, private prosecutor Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan objected to the defense's instruction that the witness answer only "yes" or "no" to its questions. The objection was overruled by presiding officer Senator-Judge Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

During the cross-examination, defense lawyer Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa was among those who questioned whether Calilung's transcript matched the actual words spoken in the video.

The defense played selected portions of Vice President Sara Duterte's online press briefing, which lasted more than two hours, held on November 23, 2024. In the video, former Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez can be heard crying and questioning her transfer to the Women's Correctional facility, while insisting that her life was in danger.

In the middle of the cross-examination, the prosecution repeatedly questioned the defense's manner of questioning. Private prosecutor Atty. Ligutan strongly objected, particularly to the defense's line of inquiry into Calilung's transcript, saying:

"Wala umanong kaugnayan o irrelevant na ito."

(This is allegedly not related, or irrelevant.)

However, Senator-Judge Escudero did not sustain the objection. He overruled it, stressing that the defense had the right to examine how accurate the NBI agent's documentation was.

During today's cross-examination, the defense also questioned the forensic software provider from which Calilung underwent two weeks of training.

Aside from this, Agent Calilung also admitted that their preliminary investigation proceeded even without an affidavit from the offended parties themselves — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

"Hindi naman required ang mga ito para simulan ang kanilang preliminary investigation."

(These are not actually required to start their preliminary investigation.)

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