MindaNews / 21 July 2026 – The prosecution on Tuesday cited “tokhang” and an incident where then-Davao City mayor and now Vice President Sara Duterte punched a court sheriff to establish a “pattern of violence” in relation to Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which alleges grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Tokhang” refers to the anti-drug campaign initiated in Davao City during Rodrigo Duterte’s mayorship and later implemented nationwide during his presidency.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, the prosecution’s final witness for Article IV, testified that the agency deemed the Vice President’s alleged death threats a national security concern. Under defense objections, lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro directed Matibag to read portions of an unsigned, unnotarized affidavit by self-confessed hitman Arturo Lascañas, submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its case against the former President.
The affidavit implicated Sara in “tokhang” operations during her mayoral term, alleging she instructed then-police chief Ronald dela Rosa to kidnap and bury suspects discreetly to avoid media scrutiny. Defense counsel Mark Vinluan objected, calling the document unreliable, but presiding Senator-Judge Chiz Escudero allowed Matibag to reference it without affirming its validity.
The prosecution also presented a 2011 video showing Sara punching a sheriff who refused to delay a court-ordered demolition. Additionally, they played footage of Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte stating at an April 12 rally, “We only need one head, the president’s head,” which Matibag linked to Sara’s October 2024 remark about ordering retaliatory killings if harmed.
The Vice President’s office confirmed she was abroad on official and personal travel, emphasizing no public funds were used. The trip aimed to engage overseas Filipinos and promote national interests. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)
