DOJ: Sara a 'self-confessed mastermind' amid kill threat

The Department of Justice (DOJ) described Vice President Sara Durerte as a "self-confessed mastermind" after she made an assassination remark against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

At a Palace press briefing, DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said, "The premeditated plot to assassinate the President as declared by the self-confessed mastermind will now face legal consequences."

"We are tapping our law enforcement agents to investigate the whereabouts of this person or persons who may be plotting against the President," he added.

The DOJ official added that the Vice President is not immune from suit, noting that she can be subjected to any criminal and administrative case.

In the same briefing, the DOJ also announced that a subpoena would be issued against Duterte following her assassination remark against the First Couple and the Speaker.

According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago the subpoena would be served on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

"Actually, bago ko umalis sa office, pinapahanda ko na 'yung subpoena and then by tomorrow, maise-serve na," Santiago said.

(Actually, before I left the office, I already ordered to have the subpoena prepared and have it ready to be served by tomorrow.)

Asked if this was the first time that a subpoena would be served to a sitting vice president, Santiago said, "I think so."

Andres said the NBI has the power to issue the subpoena.

"Ang imbestigasyon po na gagawin ng gobyerno ukol sa bagay na ito ay agad-agaran. Importante pong malaman kung ano ang mga naging hakbang para po kumuha ng serbisyo ng isang mamamatay tao na nagpaplano ng masamang balakin sa ating mahal na Pangulo," Andres said.

(The government's investigation on the matter will be undertaken right away. It's important to know right away the steps taken to secure the services of an assassin who is plotting to take the life of the President.)

"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 dahil po diretsuhan niyang sinabi na siya po ay kumuha na ng tao na siya pong gagawa ng pagpatay hindi lang po sa Pangulo, kasama po ang ating First Lady at ang ating Speaker of the House ay hindi po tamang pananalita na nanggagaling po sa napakataas na opisyales ng ating bayan," he added.

(The National Bureau of Investigation will take all the necessary steps to ascertain the identity of the assassin, including the issuance of a subpoena for Vice President Sara to appear before the NBI so she may shed light on her statements because she directly stated that she secured the services of an assassin who will kill the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House. These are improper statements from a very high official of our nation.)

This developed after the President vowed to block "criminal attempts" amid Duterte's statements that she already gave an order to have the First Couple and Romualdez killed should an attempt on her life succeed.

Ready to answer

On Monday morning, Duterte asserted that her statement was taken "maliciously taken out of logical context."

This was after the National Security Council (NSC) said Sunday it considers all threats to Marcos as serious and a matter of national security.

Duterte, in return, questioned why as a member of the NSC, she has not been invited to the meetings of the council, which National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said is "closely coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives."

Asked about the NBI's subpoena later in the day, Duterte said that she would "gladly answer" all of the NBI's questions once she is summoned.

"Pero dapat sumagot din sila sa mga tanong ko sa kanila. Mag-uusap na lang kami doon kapag andyan na 'yung subpoena," Duterte said in an ambush interview at the House of Representatives.

(They should also answer my questions. We'll just talk when the subpoena has been issued.)

Disbarment, sedition

Meanwhile, Santiago confirmed that the Vice President's actions could be a ground for her disbarment in the law profession. 

''Puwede, puwede. Yes,'' the NBI director said. 

Santiago also said Duterte acting as lawyer for her chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, was improper. 

''She cannot—ang sinabi pa niya na she is acting as lawyer for Lopez, that cannot be done. Hindi siya pupuwedeng mag-practice, ang general rule is that, public officials cannot practice their profession ‘no, pupuwede iyon kung pinapayagan or at hindi in conflict sa kanyang opisina,'' he explained.

Other offenses

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said what Duterte said against the President could also be a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).

''It’s not limited to filing of possible criminal cases or criminal charges alone. But even violation of CPRA ‘no, and possibly disbarment case if there are grounds,'' Fadullon said.

''So, iyan po ay pinag-aaralan ngayon, pero nabanggit nga kanina, siguro at this point it would not be prudent to make any disclosure yet as to what possible cases, whether they’re criminal or administrative that be file or be considered for filing by the Department of Justice or by the NBI,'' he added.

Andres said filing of sedition charges against Duterte is not off the table as well. He, however, ensured that due process would be followed in the investigation of the matter.

''We are not closing our eyes on other possible criminal offenses, even graver than sedition. But grave threats and sedition are obviously being considered, but we are not making that determination now as I said, due process warrants that every angle should be investigated,'' Andres said.

''Every party should be given an opportunity to be heard and in due time in observance of due process. We will make that determination to file the appropriate case,'' he added.

When it comes to impeachment, Andres said the process 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 grounds for impeachment. But, I will only say that there are serious violation of the law in these acts. So, we will leave it up, act to congress to make that determination,'' Andres said.— VDV, GMA Integrated News