National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said the decision of Batangas Congressman Leandro Leviste to make a private message public takes a back seat over duty.

“At ang maganda sa mensahe po niya na ‘yan, at least sa kanya na po nanggaling at nakita na kahit kaibigan natin, kahit malalim ang pinagsamahan, pag dumating sa punto na kailangan na gampanan ang mandato na naaayon sa ating opisina, ay gagawin po natin,” Matibag said.

This as Matibag reiterated personal friendships cannot stand in the way of carrying out the bureau’s mandate even when an investigation involves people he knows personally. 

The statement was made by Matibag Leviste publicly shared a private message sent to him in August 2025.

Matibag said he was not bothered with the disclosure exceopt that it is a private conversation the lawmaker disclosed.

“Nothing except that’s supposed to be a private conversation. It’s a conversation between two persons. Ginawa po niya ‘yon, that’s his choice na gawin ‘yon,” Matibag said.

The disclosure did not change his position because the message was sincere when it was sent, said Matibag.

He said that on his end, there is no difference because he sent a sincere message on August 2025.

Matibag said that the line in his message stating that “no one is above the law” reflects the principle that guides his leadership of the NBI.

“But the thing is, yung sinasabi kong ‘no one is above the law,’ that is how it is,” he said.

The bureau’s mandate must be carried out faithfully and without exception regardless of personal relationships, said Matibag.

“Our mandate as an NBI director need to be followed to the letter and that spirit as well. We cannot turn our back,” he said.

The NBI has issued a subpoena to Leviste after his name surfaced during the bureau’s investigation into an alleged plot to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.