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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