Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has formally asked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag and the agency to voluntarily withdraw from the ongoing investigation into allegations made by Rodulfo Gracioso against him, his family and other personalities.
Duterte clarified that his request was not intended to stop the investigation or avoid accountability but to ensure a fair, impartial and credible process.
Among his concerns was Matibag’s public statement describing Gracioso’s allegations as “99% true” while the investigation was still ongoing.
Duterte said Matibag later clarified that the truthfulness of the accusations against his family was not directly examined through a polygraph test.
The congressman also questioned the disclosure of Gracioso’s affidavit to the media before his camp received a copy. His lawyers reportedly obtained the document only on Oct. 5, 2026, following a formal request.
Duterte also cited Matibag’s previous public statements against Vice President Sara Duterte, including his admission that he wrote three columns about the vice president in 2024.
He said these circumstances raised reasonable doubts about Matibag’s impartiality as the investigator in a case involving his family.
Duterte also recalled Matibag’s earlier request for the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office to inhibit itself from handling libel and cyberlibel complaints filed by the congressman against the NBI director and other individuals.
Matibag had cited alleged family ties between the prosecutor and his father’s partner as a possible source of doubts about impartiality. The request was granted, and the cases were transferred to the Region XI Prosecutor’s Office.
Duterte said Matibag should apply the same standard to himself, stressing that NBI investigations must be based on evidence rather than public statements or repeated allegations in the media.
