NBI to issue subpoena vs VP Sara

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will summon Vice President Sara Duterte to explain her public declaration that she had contracted a hitman to assassinate President Marcos, his wife Liza and cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged plot on her life succeed.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said the government is taking Duterte’s remark as a “serious and active threat,” considering that it emanated from the second highest ranking official in the country, who is “influential and powerful.”

He added the NBI will undertake all processes necessary to identify the supposed hitman hired by the Vice President. The Department of Justice has jurisdiction over the NBI.

“An immediate investigation is necessary and we have a legal recourse for the NBI to issue a subpoena against the Vice President to let her explain her remarks,” Andres said.

“We are not leaving any stone unturned, we will take every effort to protect the President and to investigate everyone that could possibly be involved in this assassination plot of the three high-ranking officials of government,” Andres told Palace reporters. The First Lady is not a government official.

Asked if Duterte’s pronouncement can serve as grounds for her impeachment, Andres replied: “Impeachment is a constitutional option that is vested in the House of Representatives to initiate and eventually elevated into 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 said.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said out of courtesy and due process, the agency is giving Duterte five days to appear before the NBI and give her explanation and answer questions. The NBI is set to issue the subpoena today.

Santiago said they have no leads yet on the identity of the supposed hitman but this would be cleared up if Duterte follows the subpoena and gives an explanation on her remarks.

Should Duterte snub the summons, the NBI will proceed with whatever evidence it has in its possession and file corresponding cases if warranted.

“The prosecution office will determine whether there is prima facie evidence and certainty of conviction before a case is filed in court,” Santiago explained.

For his part, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon explained that the purpose of the subpoena is to ensure that due process is observed and Duterte is given an opportunity to present her side. If Duterte refuses to comply, the government will not wait until she is “good and ready.”

“Whatever evidence is in the possession of or will be in the possession of the NBI based on its investigation outside of any statement or any cooperation coming from them is something that we can work on already. If they refuse to answer, we cannot do anything but to comply with the law and adhere to it based on the evidence that we have,” he said.

Andres explained there is “nothing personal” about the proceedings against Duterte and the government is just showing that no one is above the law and accountability can be exacted from anybody.

“We will do what is necessary under the Constitution and in accordance with the Constitution,” he said.

VP’s motivation

Fadullon said the investigation would also look into the motivation of Duterte for making the threat and to put it in the context of current circumstances.

“We will be careful in going over the events leading to the statements that were pronounced by the Vice President,” he said.

While law enforcement agencies earlier dismissed as mere “metaphor” the previous statements of Duterte of wanting to behead the President, Andres said her latest remarks can no longer be dismissed when she herself said it was “no joke.”

“It is not for anyone to speak in that manner, to disrupt public order, by making threats especially on the life of anyone, more so the life of the Chief Executive… so we have to put our foot down on this matter,” Andres said.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is also set to investigate the Vice President, according to its chief Maj. Gen. Nicholas Torre III.

He clarified though that the investigation would focus on the incident of Duterte making such pronouncements and not on the Vice President herself.

“The instruction is to investigate the incidents. We are determining the facts, establishing what transpired and creating a chronological record. From there, we will analyze and compare these facts with applicable laws,” Torre explained.

Torre said the CIDG also aims to determine the veracity of Duterte’s “hitman” claim, which he acknowledged could be a “figure of speech.”

“We will determine if there is indeed a hitman or if this is something else entirely,” he said.

Torre noted that the investigation is still in its early stages and that the timeline will depend on the information gathered.

“A criminal investigation cannot be rushed. It may take a day, a week or longer, depending on the complexity of the case,” he said.

Torre said the CIDG will submit a report on its investigation – along with recommendations – to appropriate authorities.

He also reiterated that the probe seeks to uncover the truth and determine if laws were violated.

“The CIDG is committed to impartiality and thoroughness in this case,” Torre said.

Meanwhile, PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo noted that the investigation would cover other people.

“The CIDG is collating evidence, including words and actions of all involved,” Fajardo said.

She confirmed that the PNP is also reviewing its personnel’s actions during the transfer of Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez from St. Luke’s Medical Center to Veterans Memorial Medical Center. The transfer, ordered by Congress, was marred by tension.

Fajardo said the National Security Council (NSC) has deemed the safety and security of President Marcos and his family a national security concern, requiring adjustments in security protocols.

“The PNP is prepared to provide additional personnel for Malacañang’s security upon request,” Fajardo said.

Calls for probe

Lawmakers, meanwhile, have called on authorities to investigate Duterte’s threat thoroughly.

“Threats to the lives of high government officials and their families must be thoroughly investigated, especially by the NBI,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said.

“We need to identify the person VP Duterte spoke to, the one who allegedly assured her that he could carry out such an act. Who is this person?” Pimentel said.

Additionally, Pimentel warned that this latest development could have political consequences, particularly for the budget allocation of the OVP.

“We may have to reconsider the OVP’s funding. Given her behavior, perhaps she and her office do not deserve an increased budget,” Pimentel added.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said he is sticking to his position that the OVP’s budget should be augmented.

“I will remain consistent with what I said (to increase the OVP budget). We don’t think about personalities. I only consider the office, the office itself. So, that’s all I can say but of course, other members have their different opinions about what just transpired recently,” Villanueva told reporters in a chance interview.

Like Villanueva, Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate finance committee, said the budget allocations should not be personality-based.

“It should never have affected that. It’s not personality... Just see tomorrow. I’m signing the committee report,” Poe added.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the adjustments in the OVP budget depend on the decision of the majority.

At the House, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores called Duterte’s pronouncements “deeply alarming and raises serious national security concerns.”

“We must ascertain who this ‘mystery assassin’ is. Is this individual part of the Vice President’s trusted security detail, a member of the notorious syndicate or a hired gun? The fact that Vice President Duterte claims to have personally communicated with this person, who allegedly agreed to her directive, indicates a close and trusted relationship,” he added.

He also urged Marcos to consider disbanding the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group organized just days before former president Rodrigo Duterte left office. — Alexis Romero, Mark Ernest Villeza, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jose Rodel Clapano