NBI gives Sara 5 days to explain kill remarks

- Advertisement -

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will grill Vice President Sara Duterte about her threat to have President Marcos Jr., First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if something happens to her.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said they will serve a subpoena on the Vice President today and give her five days to appear and explain the statement that she made early Saturday morning that she had hired a hitman to kill the First Couple and the Speaker.

Duterte vowed to answer the NBI once she receives the subpoena.

- Advertisement -

“I would gladly answer ‘yung gusto nilang mga tanong na ipasagot pero dapat sumagot din sila sa mga tanong ko sa kanila. Mag-uusap na lang kami doon pag nandiyan na ‘yung subpoena (I’d gladly answer their questions, but they should also answer my questions. We’ll talk once the subpoena is there),” she told reporters at the House of representatives where she attended the hearing of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on her alleged misuse of hundreds of millions of confidential funds.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said they were already preparing the subpoena yesterday.

“At gagawin po ng National Bureau of Investigation ang lahat ng mga hakbang para matunton ang identity nito kasama po ang pag-iisyu po ng subpoena kay Vice President Sara na humarap sa NBI para bigyan po ng kaliwanagan ang kaniyang mga pananalita (The National Bureau of Investigation will take all steps to identify the hitman and will subpoena Vice President Sara to shed light on her remarks),” Andres said.

He said the NBI is allowed to initiate a motu propio investigation, or conduct a probe, even in the absence of a formal complaint.

Santiago said this is the first time that the NBI will issue a subpoena to a sitting vice president.

Asked what would happen if Duterte refused or failed to respond to the subpoena, Santiago said they would make do with what evidence they have and submit their report to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Duterte said she is no longer expecting fairness from the government under Marcos’ leadership and accused the administration of political “persecution” and “harassment.”

“Pag-threat sa’yo, balewala. Pag-threat sa kanila (Marcos couple and Romualdez), national security (When it’s a threat to you, it’s nothing. When it’s a threat to them, it’s national security,” she also said, adding that she has long been saying that there are threats to her life.

The Vice President has earlier said she was not threatening the lives of the Marcos couple when she said that she has ordered an assassin to kill them in case she gets killed.

‘OUT OF CONTEXT’

“Nagsabi ang NSC na national security concern ang threat sa President (The NSC [National Security Council] has already said that the threat to the President is a national security concern pero (but) apparently, they really do not consider the threat to the Vice President as anything of a concern,” Duterte continued.

“So, what kind of a country is this? Hindi ba kaparte ng gobyerno ang Vice President? Hindi ba ako binoto ng mga tao? Hindi ba ako ang Vice President? (Is the Vice President not part of the government? Did the people not vote for me? Am I not the Vice President)?” she asked. 

Duterte was reacting to the statement of National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Sunday that the NSC considers all threats to the President as “serious,” adding that “any and all threats against the life of the President shall be validated and considered a matter of national security.”

Año also said the NSC will coordinate with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the Vice President’s threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motive.

In an open letter yesterday, the Vice President said her statements during her online press conference in the wee hours of Saturday morning were “maliciously taken out of context.”

“I would like to see a copy of the (NCS’s) notice of meeting with proof of service, the list of attendees, photos of the meeting, and the notarized minutes of meeting where the Council, whether present or past, resolved to consider the remarks by a Vice President against a President, maliciously taken out of logical context, as a national security concern,” Duterte said.

“In addition, please include in the agenda for the next meeting, my request to present to the Council the threats to the Vice President, the OVP institution, and its personnel,” she added.

Duterte also questioned the NSC’s definition of national security, saying it “pertains to the protection of our sovereignty.”

- Advertisement -spot_img

She added the NSC’s functions are confined to the formulation of policies to protect national security.

She also questioned why she was not invited to the NSC’s meeting when she is supposed to be a member, citing Executive Order 115 (1986). She said he has not received a single notice of meeting since June 30, 2022.

“Moreover, please submit within 24 hours an explanation in writing with legal basis why the VP is not a member of the NSC or why as member I have not been invited to the meetings, whichever is applicable,” she said.

In a statement yesterday, the NSC said: “Any threat to the life of the President is always considered a national security concern because it puts the country’s stability and governance at risk.”

It stressed that the President’s safety is “crucial” in maintaining the continuity of the government, ensuring national security and upholding of rule, regardless of political views and affiliations.

“Threats to the President’s life can have far-reaching consequences, such as instability and undermining the country’s democratic institutions and the rule of law and the Constitution, the very bedrock of Philippine society,” it added.

The NSC also said the President symbolizes the democratic institutions, values and aspirations of the country, thus, “for this reason, any threat to his life must be viewed with utmost concern as a potential threat to our nation’s security.”

“We wish to emphasize that the safety of the President is a non-partisan or non-political concern. Instead of casting aspersions on the NSC, let us just wait for the results of the validation and investigation of law enforcement and security agencies,” it added.

‘SELF-CONFESSED MASTERMIND’

Andres said Duterte could face several charges, such as sedition and grave offense, following her threatening remarks.

“The premeditated plot to assassinate the President as declared by the self-confessed mastermind will now face legal consequences. And we are tapping our law enforcement agents to investigate the whereabouts and the identity of this person or persons who may be plotting against the President,” he said.

He said that based on their initial study, a charge of sedition is a “possibility,” in addition to “criminal offenses, even graver than sedition.”

“We are not closing our eyes on other obviously criminal offenses, even graver than sedition. But grave threats and sedition are obviously being considered,” he said.

Santiago said Duterte, who is a lawyer, may also face disbarment following her recent remarks and actions.

“Kasama na iyan (disbarment)… lahat ng legal liabilities, mananagot siya sa lahat ng legal aspect [Disbarment is included … all legal liabilities, he will have to face all legal aspect],” Andres said.

Santiago also reminded the Vice President that elected officials cannot practice their professions while in office, in reaction to her statement that she will act as a lawyer for her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez.

Asked about possible impeachment charges, Andres said it is a constitutional option that is vested in the House of Representatives to initiate and eventually elevate to the Senate.

“It is not within the ambit of our authority to determine whether this should be a ground for impeachment. But I will only say that there are serious violations of the law in these acts. So, we will leave it up to Congress to make that determination,” he added.

Andres assured the public that due process is being observed and every angle would be investigated and said that the full force of the law would be meted out against those involved in the kill plot.

HITMAN

Santiago said the NBI’s cybercrime unit has determined that the video clip on Duterte’s remarks was “not AI-generated, not deepfake, it is authentic.”

He said they have requested Facebook to preserve the video clip of the Vice President’s virtual briefing, which was aired live via Duterte’s social media account, for future reference.

“Now, ang next step namin ngayon is dini-determine namin whatever action, say, criminal or whatever action, that we will take against the Vice President, especially the person na sinasabi niya na inutusan na niya para ipapatay si President Marcos, the First Lady and the Speaker (Now, our next step is to determine whatever action, say, criminal or whatever action, that we will take against the Vice President, especially the person that she said she had ordered to kill the President Marcos, the First Lady and the Speaker),” he added.

Andres said conspiracy charges can be filed against the hired hitman, adding that other concerned government agencies have already been tapped to look into his identity and whereabouts.

He also said the government’s criminal investigative body is not taking the issue lightly, especially since the claim of hiring a hitman directly came from Duterte.

He said such remarks are not right, especially coming from a ranking official.

THREATS AGAINST SARA

In the same Palace briefing, Santiago said the NBI did not receive any information about the supposed threats against the life of the Vice President.

He said they were also not aware of the claim of Duterte that one of her security details had tried to take her life.

Santiago added that the Vice President is being protected by the Presidential Security Command (PSC) which also protects the President.

CIDG ‘INTERVIEW’

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection (CIDG) said it might interview Duterte in connection with her assassination threat.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said they are investigating the death threat based on the instruction given by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil last Saturday.

“If it (investigation) needs an interview with the Vice President, we will do it through channels,” Torre said during a television interview.

“According to the investigation plan that we have made, there is a possibility that (Duterte will be interviewed), but it is not on the top priority,” he added.

Torre said Duterte has the right to refuse any subpoena or summons that may be issued against her by any agency.

If Duterte refuses to be interviewed by the CIDG, Torre said: “We can proceed (with the investigation), actually we can proceed. Just like in any criminal investigation, we don’t need the statement of the main actor in the criminal investigation,”

Torre said any grave threat against any person is normally punishable under the Revised Penal Code. “But if it involves the President, it is an altogether different ball game and another law comes in,” he said.

OVP BUDGET

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III said Duterte’s tirades “can affect” the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for next year.

“The latest development can affect the budget of the OVP (Office of the Vice President). We may decide that with her behavior, she and her office do not deserve more budget,” Pimentel said in a Viber message to the media.

But Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, told reporters in an ambush interview, said she believes that the kill remarks should not affect the senators’ decision on the OVP budget.

“Never naman dapat maka-apekto yun, hindi naman personality ito eh. It’s more on how she’s able to use (That should never affect because this [budget] is not about personalities. It’s more on how she’s able to use [the funds]),” Poe said.

When asked if the Senate will restore the OVP budget as stated in the National Expenditure Program, Poe said: “Tignan na lang ninyo bukas, pinapipirmahan ko na ang committee report (Just wait until tomorrow [Tuesday], I am having the committee report signed by the senators).”

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, in a radio interview last week, said discussions are ongoing among some senators to increase the P733 million OVP budget.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said he will “remain consistent” with his decision to increase the OVP budget, adding that he has spoken with seven other senators who share his position.

“I spoke with seven, I’m the eighth, about the possibility and they are all open and supportive of the idea and this was again, before all these things happened,” he said.

Senators Christopher Go and Ronald dela Rosa have appealed to their colleagues to increase the OVP budget to allow Duterte to continue providing social assistance to the needy.

Dela Rosa said the Senate is still studying how much could be added to the OVP.              

Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros had vowed to block any hike in the OVP budget.

The Senate finance committee adopted the House’s version of the OVP budget of P733 million.

The House slashed by P1.3 billion the P2 billion budget request of the OVP and realigned this to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health.

NO SANCTIONS

Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he sees no need to impose sanctions on Go and Dela Rosa when they questioned the contempt citation and transfer of detention of Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez.

“The actions and pronouncements taken by my colleagues would not suffice to constitute a constitutional crisis. There’s also nothing in the rules that would warrant any sanction from the Senate,” Estrada said in a Viber message to the media.

In a chance interview in the Senate yesterday, Dela Rosa said he went to St. Luke’s last Saturday to show support to Duterte who asked for help.

“May tao na humihingi ng tulong, yung Vice President umiiyak, humihingi ng tulong, ako pabayaan ko ba? …That’s the second highest official of the land at wala man lang taga gobyerno na nagtulong. So ako, in my capacity as a private citizen, not as a senator but as a friend, pumunta ako para tignan ang situation nila (There is a person who asked for my help. The Vice President was crying, asking for help. Should I ignore it? …She’s the second highest official of the land and no one from government helped her. So, in my capacity as a private citizen, not as a senator but as a friend, I went there to check on their situation),” Dela Rosa said.

“Nag-interfere ba ako kung saan nila gusto ikulong? Wala. I just saw to it na okay sila. Bakit humarang ba ako sa ginagawa nila? (Did I interfere to where they [congressmen] wanted her to be detained? No. I just saw to it that they are okay. Did I block what they were doing?),” he added.

‘REACTING ONLY’

Dela Rosa said the Vice President was only reacting to the “actions” of Malacañang and the House when she made her expletive-laden press conference.

“Si Inday Sara naman puro lang yan reaction to what they are doing to her. To address the situation, you address the action, not the reaction. The action is yung panggigipit sa kanya ng Malacañang at ng House of Representatives kaya siya nagkakaroon ng ganyang reaction (Inday Sara is only reacting to what they are doing to her. To address the situation, you address the action, not the reaction. The action is Malacañang’s and the House of Representatives’ pressure on her that’s why she is having such reactions),” he said.

“So, we don’t focus on the reaction. Focus on the action that stimulates that reaction,” he added.

He said he was wondering why the House is focused on investigating the OVP’s and the Department of Education’s confidential funds when Duterte was still its secretary when there are also several agencies which have the secret funds, like the Office of the President and the House, among others.

Dela Rosa said the basis of the alleged irregularities in spending the confidential funds were on the “disallowances” by the Commission on Audit which he said will later be lifted once the agency addresses the issue.

He said the OVP is now explaining the allegations that it has misused its confidential funds before the House inquiry.

Dela Rosa, in an ambush interview at St. Luke’s Medical Center in QC where Lopez was confined on Saturday, said he rushed to Manila from Baguio City to show support to the Vice President since Lopez was “worried” that time as “she’s not sure what will happen to her.”

Dela Rosa said it was “unfortunate” that the House ordered the detention of Lopez from its facility to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City even if she has not yet been convicted of any crime.

“Women’s Correctional facility is a place for convicted criminals…Bakit mo ikulong doon yung isang babae, isang abogado na pinatawan lang ng citation of contempt, ngayon dadalhin mo na sa facility for the convicted criminals? It’s very unjustified para sa akin…Okay lang sana kung doon dalhin sa Quezon City Police District detention, mga ganon, pero yung detention cell ng convicted criminal? That’s the worst for me na ikulong mo ang isang tao na cited in contempt lang (Women’s Correctional facility is a place for convicted criminals…Why would you detain a woman, who is a lawyer that is, that you only cited in contempt, but you will bring her to a facility for convicted criminals? It’s very unfortunate… It’s fine with me if they will detain her at the Quezon City Police District detention facility, or something like that, but in a cell for convicted criminals? That’s the worst for me for a person that is only cited in contempt),” he said.

Go, in a statement last Saturday, questioned the House’s use of its contempt powers to detain resource persons.

“Nakikiusap po ako sa ating mga kapwa mambabatas sa House of Representatives na hinay-hinay lang sa pagpapatupad ng contempt citation at igalang po ang karapatan ng mga resource persons. Natatakot po ang mga resource persons dahil puro nako-contempt na po sila. Imbes na maging productive ang resulta, ay hindi na po, dahil sa takot. Tandaan natin, in aid of legislation naman po ito (I am appealing to our colleagues in the House of Representatives to go slow in using its contempt citation. Let us respect the rights of resource persons. They are now scared because most of them are cited in contempt that would be not productive. Be reminded that hearings are in aid of legislation),” he said.

He said the contempt powers of Congress should not be abused.

“Hindi dapat ito naaabuso.Bilang isang mambabatas at mamamayang Pilipino, nakikiusap po ako: Please stop the harassment. Please be reminded that this should be in aid of legislation, not prosecution (This should not be abused. As a fellow lawmaker and Filipino citizen, I am appealing to please stop the harassment. Please be reminded that this should be in aid of legislation, not prosecution),” he said. – With Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa

Authors

- Advertisement -

Share post: