DOJ probes VP Sara’s kill remark vs Marcos, family

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now investigating the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she contracted a person to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, if an alleged plot against her succeeds.

“The matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation. If the evidence warrants, this could lead to eventual prosecution,” the DOJ said, as forwarded by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to members of the media on Sunday.

Duterte made the kill remark early Saturday morning during a media conference at the House of Representatives where Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff and undersecretary Zuleika Lopez was detained after being cited in contempt.

“Huwag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, 'pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez," Duterte said.

(I've already spoken to someone, so don't worry about my security. I told that person to kill BBM [Marcos' initials], Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez if I were to be slain.)

“Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. ‘Pag namatay ako, huwag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said 'yes.'''

(Ma'am, I've already left a directive. After I die, don't stop until you've killed them all. And then he said, "Yes.")

Criminal charges

Former senator Leila de Lima, who also previously served as Justice secretary, said she was disturbed by Duterte's statement, stressing that the Vice President may face criminal charges for it. 

“Sobra na ‘yun. Talagang…disrespectful and even can be…pwedeng may criminal charge against her,” de Lima said in a Kapihan sa QC forum. 

"Pwedeng may makita sa ating Revised Penal Code or any special law na magiging basehan para magsampa ng criminal case against her because threatening a sitting President is a serious matter,” she added.

(That's too much. That's really disrespectful and that could result in a criminal charge against her. We can find something in our Revised Penal Code or any special law that will be the basis to file a criminal case against her because threatening a sitting President is a serious matter.) 

De Lima also said that what happened to Lopez was Duterte’s responsibility, and that the Vice President herself should face the House probe into her offices’ budget use.

The Vice President was accompanying Lopez in a House detention facility after the lower chamber ordered to transfer the latter to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW). 

Lopez then fell ill and was brought to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

Duterte later on claimed that her “assassination” statement was not a threat, and that she was only highlighting an alleged threat to her security.

Both the Presidential Security Command (PSC) and the National Security Council (NSC), however, consider the Vice President’s remark as a matter of national security.

On Sunday night, Duterte went on Facebook to thank her supporters for coming to her defense and said that she was being used as a "punching bag" to hide government corruption. She also challenged government officials—including those in the Office of the President and in Congress—to undergo a drug test. —Giselle Ombay/RF/BM, GMA Integrated News