'Wow': Ligutan reacts to objections of defense during direct examination of NBI witness — ANC

[0:02] In what particular portion of the subject video did the respondent utter that she already contracted a person to kill the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives? [0:42] Are you done? [0:45] Objection? [0:46] Objection, Your Honor. [0:47] Wow. [0:48] Kindly state the objection, counsel for responding. [0:51] Your Honor, the question is misleading. [0:53] There was no mention anywhere before that that the video mentioned the killing of the President. [1:03] To kill? [1:04] Yeah, there's no mention in any testimony earlier. [1:06] There's no mention in that video. [1:08] Your Honor, again, with all respect, the records will barely be out. [1:14] The basis have been more than complied with. [1:18] This witness mentioned many times over that the subject of investigation is the statement of the Vice President that she already contracted a person to kill the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker. [1:31] There's no basis for the objection, Your Honor, please. [1:33] Your Honor, may I ask for a read back? [1:36] He was the only party who said that, Your Honor. [1:39] Can we use the third party in referring to co-posing counsel? [1:42] Yes, Your Honor. [1:43] If I may, Your Honor. [1:44] May I ask, Your Honor, for a- [1:45] Let the Council for Defense finish his statement. [1:47] May I ask, Your Honor, for a reading of the transcript as the witness, to my recollection, never mentioned that the Vice President did those things. [1:55] All right. [1:56] If I may, Your Honor, please, sir. [1:57] Counsel, kindly lay the basis. [1:59] Yes, Your Honor, please. [2:00] Now, Mr. Witness, you said that your office in the NBI conducted an investigation for a statement made by the Vice President noong Nobyembre 23 taong 2024. [2:14] Naalala mo yun? [2:16] Objection, Your Honor. [2:17] Oh. [2:18] Your Honor, please, sir. [2:19] What is the basis of the objection? [2:20] Your Honor, it's leading. [2:21] Your Honor, please, if I may, Your Honor, please. [2:23] Do you remember? [2:24] Leading, Your Honor. [2:25] If I may, Your Honor, please, I'm just giving in to what the defense wants. [2:29] The record will bear me out. [2:31] This witness mentioned so many times over that he investigated the statement of the Vice President uttering that she already contracted a person. [2:41] The whole nation is listening. [2:43] Your Honor, so many words leading. [2:45] The chair will make a ruling. [2:46] The objection is overruled. [2:48] Earlier, the chair noted, I have it in my notes, that the question was propounded by counsel with respect to the 11-23-24 incident that was the subject matter of a digital forensic examination by the witness pertaining to the former Vice President. [3:07] That was the instance, if the counsel will recall. [3:11] That counsel for the prosecutors asked the witness if he knew who the Vice President was. [3:17] So the objection is overruled. [3:19] The witness may answer. [3:20] Your Honor, may I state for the record, my objection is on the part of the question where he said that the Vice President hired someone to kill the President, the First Lady and the Speaker of the House, not on the identification of the Vice President. [3:40] Noted. [3:41] Court already made the ruling. [3:42] Witness will answer. [3:43] Mr. Witness, naalala mo ba yung tanong? [3:48] Can you repeat the question, sir? [3:50] Okay, now. [3:51] Kindly repeat the question, counsel. [3:52] In what particular portion of the subject video, in that online media conference of the Vice President, did she utter that she already contracted a person to kill the President, the First Lady, the former Speaker? [4:18] In what portion? [4:19] Objection, Your Honor. [4:20] What is the objection? [4:21] Sir, Your Honor, this Honorable Court already ruled on this question. [4:25] The discussion later on was on the leading question made by the prosecutor. [4:31] If you recall, Your Honor, this Honorable Court said, prosecutor, please lay the foundation, the basis for your question. [4:39] Your Honor, please, if I make a response. [4:41] The President officer will ask the witness. [4:43] Mr. Witness, out of the two or more so hours of video that you downloaded, do you know if at all the timestamp that pertains to any statements made by the Vice President pertaining to any of the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment, particularly Article 4, the subject matter of this case, in relation to alleged threats made by her in that video? [5:11] Yes, Your Honor, but may I refer to my investigator's note, Your Honor? [5:16] You may do so. [5:17] Senator Cayetano is recognized. [5:18] Mr. President officer. [5:19] Alan Cayetano. [5:20] Sorry. [5:21] May I know from the records, is this the first time that the witness mentioned that the Vice President uttered threats against the President, the former Speaker, the First Lady? [5:33] Your Honor, if I may, there was no mention at all, sir, apologies. [5:38] Because if it's the first time, precisely the rule says that you cannot allow leading questions, whether it's from the judges, whether it's from the presiding officer, or from the defense, or the... [5:53] So, meaning, you lay the basis. Simply, you ask him, ano yung laman ng video? [5:58] Pag binanggit na niya, na may ganito sa laman ng video, then you can ask him na directly what part. [6:05] So, all of us want to expedite it, but let's follow the rules. [6:08] So, that's why I'm asking, has this witness this afternoon, I don't, I missed a portion because I have a headache and I had to eat before I drink medicine, but I was watching sa TV. [6:20] But hindi ko pa narinig na sinabi niya to, kasi kung hindi pa niya sinabi, Mr. Presiding Officer, can we just follow the rules and just lay the basis, ask him, ano laman ng video? [6:30] Let him testify, tapos pag binanggit niya, then you can ask him, hindi na siya leading. [6:34] But we shouldn't really ask leading questions because we'll violate the rules. [6:39] So, excuse me, but I'll just be very particular when it comes to the rules, and it's not against any group. [6:45] Senator Judge Caetano, it will take some time before we can, quote-unquote, appeal to the records. [6:52] I'm trying to have them get it. [6:54] But in lieu of that, that's why the Chair tried to intervene. [6:58] Can counsel kindly lay the basis for the witness to be able to identify the timestamp portions of the two-hour video? [7:08] Counsel for the prosecutors may proceed. [7:10] This will be quick. Mr. Witness, you said that your office conducted an investigation on the statement made by the Vice President dated November 23, 2024, correct? [7:23] Objection, Your Honor. [7:24] Leadings. [7:25] Your Honor, he's not only direct. [7:28] Overruled. Witness may answer. [7:31] Yes, sir. [7:32] Now, anong, ano ba, ano ba exactly yung sinabi ng Vice President nung araw na yan, November 23, 2024? [7:48] Objection, Your Honor. [7:49] Well, I'm not yet done. [7:51] Well, Your Honor, the pauses of the prosecution are very confusing. [7:55] Why don't you let the counsel for the prosecutors finish his question before you object? [7:58] Precisely, Your Honor. [7:59] May I ask, instead of this, Your Honor, may I ask that the Honorable Court direct the witness to allow me to object before answering? [8:10] No. [8:11] Because, precisely, the questioning of the prosecutor, there are many pauses, which is confusing if he's done or not. [8:21] Counsel, witness even on occasion forgot what the question was because he did not respond to the question of the prosecutor. [8:28] Yes, Your Honor. [8:29] So, I just… [8:30] The court will make sure of that. [8:31] Thank you, Your Honor. [8:32] So kindly finish your question if you want to state it again, counsel for the prosecutors. [8:36] Maybe it's the tone. I'll be quick. [8:38] What particular statements of the Vice President on that day did you investigate? [8:42] Objection, Your Honor. [8:45] Vig. [8:50] Counsel, correspondent, a bit of patience. Let the counsel finish. [8:54] Yes. [8:55] I don't think it's finished. [8:56] The question is done. [8:57] What particular statement on that day did you investigate? [9:01] How is that leading? [9:02] Objection, Your Honor. [9:03] Vague. [9:04] Not leading. [9:05] Your Honor, please. [9:06] I didn't say leading. [9:07] Counsel, what's the basis of the objection? [9:11] Vague. [9:12] All right. [9:14] I will indulge, Your Honor, please. [9:15] It's a two-hour, 36-minute video, Your Honor. [9:17] I will indulge, Your Honor, please. [9:18] I will add these two phrases. [9:20] It will never be that. [9:22] Now, Mr. Witness, what statements did the Vice President add on that day, if any? [9:30] Your Honor, same objection. [9:33] There's a two-hour, 26-minute. [9:36] Let the witness answer. [9:37] Counsel, this two-hour and so-minute video was done on the same day. [9:42] Yes. [9:43] Correct, Your Honor. [9:44] The question must be given with particularity. [9:48] If the witness knows, witness may answer. [9:50] Answer. [9:52] Witness will please answer. [9:54] Can I refer for my notes to identify the exact statement? [9:58] Because I might said a statement that's not part of the actual statement. [10:03] Signing officer will allow the witness to refer to his notes to refresh his memory. [10:07] Go ahead, Mr. Witness. [10:08] A specific statement, quote-unquote. [10:20] Yes, wag kang mag-alam, Ma'am, sa security ko, kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. [10:29] Sinabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Lisa Araneta at si Martin Romualdez. [10:37] No joke, no joke. [10:38] Nagbilin na ako, Ma'am. [10:40] Pag na matay ako, sabi ko, wag kang tumigil hanggat di mo sila mapatay. [10:45] Hanggat di mo sila mapatay sila. [10:46] And then he said yes. [10:48] Please proceed, counsel. [10:53] Thank you. [10:54] Now, in what particular portion of that video recording that you authenticated of that online media briefing on November 23, 2024, did the Vice President utter those words? [11:17] If I may, sir, I think we should include the question first. [11:24] It starts at 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour 17 minutes and 18 seconds, sir. [11:30] Your Honor, so the witness manifested as an answer to the question in what portion he said. [11:38] Time stamps, 1 hour 15 minutes, 0 seconds, to 1 hour 17 minutes, 18 seconds. [11:46] And we computed, Your Honor, please, it's a 2 minute, 18 second portion of that video. [11:52] At this juncture, Honor, please, bases have been laid. [11:55] The nation can finally see it. [11:58] The court will do. [12:00] We move. [12:01] That that's 2 minutes and 18 seconds portion of that video be presented at this juncture. [12:08] Your Honor, please. [12:09] The secretariat is instructed to play the USB given to the tech behind that was observed and witnessed by both councils for the parties. [12:24] It's ordered. [12:26] Kindly play the video. [12:28] Vice President. [12:29] Thank you so much nga po para dala niyong Hopia nung hearing na pumunta kayo for PRRD. [12:35] Kami yung nasa likod niyo po yung hinawag ilang bastos kasi pumalak. [12:39] Congresswoman. [12:40] Kindly posit. [12:41] Kindly posit. [12:42] Ganyan ba talaga? [12:43] Can I? [12:44] You Honor, please. [12:46] The witness said that he would like to include the question propounded to the Vice President. [12:53] So ganyan nga? [12:54] Hindi na lalakihan yan? [12:55] Ganyan na talaga yan? [12:56] Or it will get bigger? [12:58] It will get bigger, Your Honor, please. [12:59] Okay. [13:00] Please proceed. [13:01] Thank you, Ma'am. [13:03] Nakakain kami. [13:04] Apo ko ay natatakot kumain ng pagkain doon pa mamaya. [13:07] Ma'am, mag-iingat po kayo na sa teritoryo kayo ng kalaban. [13:10] Kasi sila naman tap na eh. [13:13] Sila talaga yung bastos eh. [13:15] You reap what you sow. [13:20] Mag-iingat po kayo kasi sa dinamirami po ng inyong mga pasabog ngayon. [13:26] It seems like marami po talaga kayong alam about them, no? [13:29] Dahil sa pagkakasamay niya sa kanila during the campaign and during the 2022 elections. [13:35] Baka po mamaya kasi totoo yung mga naririnig namin or yung, I don't know if it's true, [13:40] na meron daw silang Operation Romanovs. [13:42] And baka bala kayong ubusin ang iyong pamilya dahil hadlang kayo sa kanilang mga balaki. [13:49] In the future, so mag-iingat po kayo. [13:51] Kami po kasi na kami ng EDSA Friday through, kami yung bumababa every Friday dyan sa EDSA [13:57] because we believe yan yung tamang venue sa dinamirami na ng problema natin. [14:02] Ang kaya lang naman po namin gawin ay manawagan na bumaba na yan. [14:08] Eh ano po kaya ang remedy naman yung mga nasa posisyon [14:12] o ng mga kayang labanan itong napakarami na pong ginagawang corruption at krimen laban sa taong bayan? [14:21] Ano po ang pwede niyong maging remedy para matapos na ito? [14:24] Lalo't nagsisigaw na po ang taong bayan na mag people power niya. [14:28] Yes. [14:30] Huwag kang mag-alala mam sa security ko [14:34] kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. [14:38] Sabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Lisa Caraneta at si Martin Romales. [14:45] No joke. No joke. [14:49] Nagbilin na ako mam. [14:50] Pag namatay ako, sabi ko, huwag ka tumigila hanggang hindi mo mapatay sila. [14:59] And then he said yes. [15:00] That's the end of that 2 minute and 18 second portion of the video, Yon please. [15:17] Pwede ba kita magpadayon? Can we continue? [15:21] Council may continue. May proceed. [15:24] Now, Mr. Witness, what relation if any, does that video that you viewed with the video you mentioned earlier, [15:35] the Vice President, uttering that statement? [15:38] It is the portion of the video that I authenticated, sir. [15:43] Okay. Let's continue. What happened next, Mr. Witness, kung meron man, after mong ma-authenticate yung subject video na yan? [15:54] Our team conducted an open source investigation to identify previous statement of the Vice President that had similarities to the November 23, 2024 video, sir. [16:09] Okay. Now, sinabi mo that your team conducted yung tinatawag mong open source investigation for any prior statements made by the Vice President against President Marcus Jr. and his family members. [16:22] Yung tanong nga, ba't kailangan pa magandak ng open source investigation for any prior statements na ginawa kung meron man ng Vice President against laban kay President Marcus Jr. at saka yung pamilya niya? [16:40] As part of our standard procedure, sir, kailangan pa mag-itzing. [16:42] Thank you, sir.