NBI chief to seek transfer of Pulong Duterte libel complaint to DOJ in Manila
NBI Director Melvin Matibag says the Davao City prosecutor handling the case is a first cousin of Honeylet Avanceña, raising concerns over impartiality.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag plans to ask that the libel and cyberlibel complaint filed against him by Davao City First District Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte be moved from the local prosecution office to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila, according to Edge Davao.
The complaint also names several officials and journalists of GMA Network. Rep. Duterte filed it on October 23 over reports about the alleged delivery of money to members of the Duterte family. The family has denied the allegations.
Matibag said his camp is preparing a motion asking the city prosecutor to inhibit from the case and for proceedings to be temporarily suspended. He cited the prosecutor's reported family link to Honeylet Avanceña, the longtime partner of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
"We found out that the city prosecutor is the first cousin of Honeylet Avanceña," Matibag said.
The NBI chief conceded that the connection may not amount to a legal relationship by affinity, since Avanceña and the former president are not married. He maintained, however, that the closeness of the relationship gives his side an "alarming" reason to seek the transfer in order to remove any possible bias.
The motion has not yet been filed, and any transfer of the case would depend on action by the appropriate authorities, Edge Davao reported.
Why it matters for Davao
The move could take a high-profile complaint filed by Davao City's First District representative out of the hands of the local prosecution office, depending on how authorities rule on the motion.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Edge Davao. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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