The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday served a subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte so she can explain her assassination remark against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In a statement, the bureau said the subpoena was served at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
Duterte is ordered to appear in the NBI’s Office of the Director at 9 a.m. on November 29 to give her evidence in the investigation.
Meanwhile, a ranking Department of Justice (DOJ) official assured that the investigation of the alleged threats uttered by Duterte will be done per proper procedures.
It was explained that the investigation aims to shed light on the alleged Grave Threats under Art. 282 of the Revised Penal Code concerning Sec. 6 of R.A. 10175 and possible violation of R.A. 11479.
In an interview, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said the reason for issuing the subpoena in the first place was to allow the Vice President to fully explain her side.
The DOJ official also clarified that there is “no such thing as a conditional threat” and that the Vice President has confirmed that she has already engaged an assassin to execute it.
Further, he explained that while the Vice President’s previous remark about daydreaming of “cutting off” the President’s head may be interpreted as hyperbole, the same is not true in this case.
Duterte is already “departing from legal and judicial processes and putting the law into her own hands…this is exactly an extrajudicial killing,” Andres explained.
At the Lower Chamber, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said the congressional inquiry into the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds will continue even as she faces new legal challenges arising from her assassination threats.
He emphasized that Congress cannot put its probe on the back burner after having uncovered discrepancies in the handling of large sums of money, further fueling public concern about the transparency and accountability of Duterte’s office.
Bongalon underscored the importance of conducting both investigations separately, saying “This will undergo a regular process.”
For his part, Manila Rep. Joel Chua said lawmakers have yet to discuss the possibility of impeaching Duterte despite her threats against the life of the First Couple and House Speaker.
In a press briefing, Chua, who chairs the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said, “As for us, we are just doing our work… whatever we can unravel in the course of these hearings.”
He said any discussion about impeachment can only happen when the inquiry is over and the committee starts evaluating its next action.
Chua’s panel is responsible for investigating the alleged misuse of OVP and Department of Education funds under Duterte.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “NBI serves subpoena to Sara Duterte to explain threats vs. Marcos, others.”
