NBI: No person of interest yet in Sara Duterte's 'kill' order vs Marcos, others

Following the controversial statement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she ordered someone to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday they are not yet looking at anyone as a potential person of interest. 

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said this is the reason why they want to subpoena Duterte, so that she could formally explain her remarks made during the wee hours of Saturday that were considered by authorities as a threat to the President and a matter of national security. 

"Wala pa po (na person of interest). Actually, 'yan ang reason bakit gusto naming makausap si pangalawang pangulo natin, VP Sara. Ngayon po magse-serve ng subpoena ang aming mga ahente doon sa Office of the Vice President,” Santiago told Dobol B TV.

(There’s no person of interest yet. Actually, that's the reason why we want to talk to VP Sara. Today our agents will serve a subpoena at the Office of the Vice President.) 

He said the NBI does not expect Duterte to immediately divulge the identity of the person whom she allegedly contracted to assassinate the President if she herself gets killed.

“Pero umaasa pa rin kami na magpapaliwanag si ma'am, si VP Sara, kung bakit siya nakapagsalita ng gano’n,” he added. 

(But we still hope that VP Sara will explain why she made those remarks.) 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said a subpoena that would be carried out by the NBI would be issued against Duterte following her assassination remark against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Vice President made the remark 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 by a House committee.

“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 had said.

(I've already spoken to someone, so don't worry about my security. I told that person to kill BBM, 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'm killed, don't stop until you've killed them all. And then he said, "Yes.")

Duterte later on clarified that her “assassination” statement was not a threat, saying she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security.

In response, Marcos on Monday vowed to block "criminal attempts" against him.

''Kung ganun na lang kadali ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang Presidente, papaano pa kaya ang mga pangkaraniwan na mamamayan?'' the President said in a video statement.

(If it's that easy to plan the assassination of a President, how about that of ordinary citizens?) 

''’Yang ganyang kriminal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. 'Yan ay aking papalagan,'' Marcos added.

(Such a criminal attempt should not be overlooked. I will not let that slide.) 

The DOJ also described Duterte as a "self-confessed mastermind" after what she said, and is expected to face legal consequences. —KBK, GMA Integrated News