National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag expressed his readiness to testify anytime in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, despite getting flak for seeking to advance the schedule of his testimony.

Matibag said he respectfully requested that the prosecution panel schedule him for an earlier date so that he could attend an international anti-scam summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Political commentator and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio called the trip a junket, adding that it should not take precedence over the Senate court’s schedule.

“I respectfully requested, I did not dictate. We have no authority to dictate. We have high regard for the impeachment court, the prosecution and the defense,” Matibag said.

“Anytime, we have nothing new to say but only what was in the document and the evidence,” he said.

Matibag said that there is no need to issue a subpoena if he will attend voluntarily to the impeachment trial as a witness.

This, as Matibag has defended his request to advance his appearance before the Senate impeachment court as a witness.

The Senate impeachment court eventually ruled that Matibag’s appearance be moved to 20 July.

The NBI chief is set to appear as a witness on the alleged grave threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

He said his overseas engagement is important in helping the Philippines stay off the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) money laundering “gray list.”

Made in bad taste

This came after Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano called his request “in bad taste,” criticizing Matibag for allegedly “dictating” the schedule of the Senate impeachment court.

Matibag, in response, said the conference could help the country sustain last year’s exit from the gray list.

He said it is a point system, thus his attendance at the summit will be a point because next year the country will again be subjected to an audit to determine if the country will remain on the list, thus the attendance at the summit is important.

Matibag reiterated that the SCAM Summit is important to the Philippines’ continuing efforts to stay off the FATF gray list.

The NBI chief said he expects to have a side meeting with Federal Bureau of Investigation director Cash Patel, which is reportedly being arranged by their counterparts at the US Embassy.

“There is an opportunity that we can have a side meeting of Director Cash Patel. Following our successful repatriation of one of their most wanted fugitives, they sent us a letter of congratulations and appreciation,” Matibag said.