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NBI will also probe alleged threat to VP Sara's life — Santiago


The NBI will also probe alleged threat to VP Sara Duterte's life.

Aside from its probe on Vice President Sara Duterte’s remark that she ordered the killing of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should she die, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will also investigate the supposed threat to her life.

“She is also claiming that there is a threat on her life. Hindi namin ite-take for granted ‘yan (we will not take that for granted),” NBI Director Jaime Santiago said in a briefing.

Duterte was expected to appear before the NBI today to explain her remark that she ordered someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged assassination plot against her succeed.

The vice president, however, did not appear and was represented by her lawyer, who handed the NBI a letter as she asked the hearing to be rescheduled.

Santiago said the hearing will be rescheduled to December 11 to give Duterte time to prepare.

“Tatanungin namin siya, sino ba ‘yung pinaghihinalaan mo? May ebidensya ba tayo doon sa pinag hihinalaan mo? Ganoon po ‘yun,” he said.

(We will ask her, who is your suspect? Do you have any evidence?)

The vice president had earlier contended that her remarks against the Marcoses and Romualdez were “maliciously taken out of logical context.”

Active participants

Meanwhile, Santiago said the NBI will issue a subpoena to around 10 to 12 individuals who participated in Duterte’s late-night press conference, where she issued her remarks. 

“Mamaya ise-serve na ang subpoena doon sa mga nag attend doon sa video clip. Na identify na namin, no? Isu-subpoena namin sila, mag-shed light, tanungin namin. Nangyari ‘yun in their presence, nag tatanong sila, ‘yun, surrounding those matters,” he said.

(Later we will serve the subpoena to those who attended the online press event. We have identified  them. We will issue a subpoena and ask them to shed light. This happened in their presence, they asked her questions, things like that.)

He added that only those who participated in the press conference will be called upon.

“‘Yung mga nag-ask ng questions, ‘yung mag nakipag participate. Pero ‘yung nandoon lang, nasa Zoom meeting lang, naka nganga lang ng ganyan, hindi na namin isu-subpoena ‘yun,” he said.

(Those who asked questions [and] those who participated. But those who were only there, who were just watching, we will not issue a subpoena against them.)

Santiago also clarified that the NBI will not press charges against these individuals.

Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he is not supportive of any impeachment plan against Duterte.

Marcos said this move has no significance to the lives of Filipinos.

“This is not important. This has not make any significant difference to one Filipino life,” Marcos said.

“Why waste time on it?” he added.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News