Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is taking his confrontation with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag into the legal arena, according to the headline of the Philippine Daily Inquirer report.
The reported legal action comes amid a growing dispute over the NBI’s investigation into allegations involving members of the Duterte family, including claims of cash deliveries and questions surrounding properties allegedly linked to them.
The controversy has placed the lawmaker and the country’s chief investigator on opposing sides of an increasingly public exchange over evidence, accountability, and the conduct of the investigation.
A dispute over evidence and alleged property links
The conflict intensified after the NBI disclosed that it was examining properties allegedly connected to Vice President Sara Duterte and members of her family.
In an October 12 report, GMA News said Matibag described an investigation into properties and possible land acquisitions in connection with allegations made by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. The officer claimed that he delivered suitcases containing cash to members of the Duterte family on the instructions of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
The allegations remain allegations, not proof of criminal wrongdoing. The Duterte family members named in the claims have denied them, while Velasco’s camp has also rejected the accusations.
Paolo Duterte challenges the NBI chief
Paolo Duterte has publicly questioned the basis for Matibag’s statements about properties supposedly linked to him.
In a report published by GMA News on October 12, the congressman challenged the NBI chief to establish the facts and provide evidence supporting the claims. SunStar Davao likewise reported his objection to the use of photographs as a basis for suggesting ownership of a property.
The exchange highlights a central issue in the dispute: the distinction between identifying a property for investigation and establishing who legally owns it.
The NBI, for its part, has said it is investigating the allegations and examining relevant records. Investigative findings and accusations must still be assessed through appropriate legal processes before conclusions about liability can be reached.
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The wider legal and political implications
The reported libel complaint adds another dimension to an already contentious dispute between the lawmaker and the NBI director.
The case also raises broader questions about how public officials communicate allegations during active investigations, how evidence is presented to the public, and what legal remedies are available when someone believes statements have damaged their reputation.
A libel complaint, however, does not establish that libel occurred. The allegations raised in any complaint must be evaluated under the applicable law and supported by evidence.
The precise claims contained in Paolo Duterte’s reported complaint against Matibag, including the statements being challenged and the relief being sought, should be confirmed from the complaint itself or an official statement before those details are published.
What happens next?
The reported legal action could bring further scrutiny to the public statements that fueled the dispute. Any subsequent developments will depend on the complaint’s contents, the responses of the parties involved, and the action taken by the appropriate authorities.
For now, the key questions are what specific statements Paolo Duterte is challenging, what evidence supports his allegations, and how Matibag will respond.
The dispute is unfolding alongside the NBI’s broader inquiry into claims involving the Duterte family. Neither the existence of an investigation nor the filing of a legal complaint should be treated as proof of wrongdoing.
