Manila, July 8 -- The first witness presented by the prosecution told the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday that a threat-related case involving the country's top officials may be submitted for preliminary investigation even without a personal complaint from the alleged victim, if investigators find sufficient evidence.

During the third day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung whether the bureau must still seek the consent of a threatened official before filing a case involving threats against the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, or Chief Justice.

"If we found that the evidence is enough, that there is a crime c...