Matibag seeks to remove prosecutor from handling Paolo Duterte case

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag will file a motion for inhibition on Monday against the Davao City prosecutor handling the libel and cyberlibel complaints recently filed by Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte.

In an interview on Monday, Matibag said they had learned that the prosecutor is a first cousin of Honeylet Avanceña, the common-law partner of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Pulong Duterte files P 20-M cyberlibel raps vs NBI chief, et al

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“Alam naman natin, sabihin walang legal relationship because by affinity, wala naman dahil hindi naman kasal, but still, it develops a sense of alarming reason for us to transfer dahil nandoon pa rin yung malalim na relationship to remove the bias already,” Matibag said.

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(We know, let’s say there is no legal relationship because by affinity, there is no relationship because it is not a marriage, but still, it develops a sense of alarming reason for us to transfer because the deep relationship is still there to remove the bias already.)

The NBI director also wants the venue of the complaints transferred to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) national prosecution service.

Matibag said he will file the motion for inhibition with a motion to suspend proceedings before the DOJ and the Davao City prosecutor’s office this Monday.

On Friday, Rep. Duterte filed the libel and cyberlibel complaints against Matibag, as well as several individuals, a television network, and its officials and journalists over allegations of bribery that he said were “untrue” and meant to destroy his reputation.

The complaints stemmed from dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.’s allegations that he delivered suitcases of cash to members of the Duterte family on the instructions of former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. /jpv