VP to skip NBI probe, welcomes impeach move

MANILA, Philippines — On the advice of her lawyers, Vice President Sara Duterte will not attend the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s probe into her remarks against President Marcos, First Lady Liza and Speaker Martin Romualdez on Dec. 11.

“Based on my understanding of my lawyer’s explanation, I can skip the NBI’s investigation and just submit a letter or affidavit. Second, we have thanksgiving activities on Dec. 11,” Duterte said.

After the activities, Duterte said she would be flying home to Davao City for the interment of her uncle.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the probe would proceed without her.

Duterte also welcomed yesterday impeachment moves against her, saying the proceedings may “finally bring peace” amid the political and legal storm that landed in her lap after she locked horns with the Marcos administration.

She said the impeachment move was “OK” because it left out her staff from the Office of the Vice President and former colleagues in the Department of Education (DepEd).

“I welcome (the development) that finally, the impeachment case they have been talking about since last year has already been filed,” Duterte said in an interview with GMA Regional News.

“The impeachment case is OK because I’m the only one being investigated and attacked. This is to finally answer everything they’re accusing me of,” she added.

Duterte is facing two impeachment complaints filed days apart last week, with the first one citing 24 Articles of Impeachment covering alleged violations of the 1987 Constitution, starting from when Duterte was Davao City mayor in 2007 up to the time she was elected Vice President in 2022 and served as secretary of the DepEd in a concurrent capacity.

She addressed the support thrown against her impeachment by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and said the 110-year-old Christian church only seeks “peace that could clear the way for prosperity.”

“I understand why the INC wants peace in our country because they know that if there’s peace, prosperity will follow. That’s what all Filipinos want – to have peace and continuous prosperity for our country,” she said in Filipino.