No postponement of NBI probe on Sara today

MANILA, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation is pushing through with its probe today on Vice President Sara Duterte’s threat to have President Marcos, the First Lady and Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated, even if she does not show up, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said yesterday.

There was no word from Duterte if she would appear before the NBI today.

She had said she wanted the probe postponed purportedly so she could attend the hearing by the House committee on good government and public accountability on her questionable use of confidential funds.

While the NBI said early yesterday that it was open to a postponement, the House committee said it was calling off its hearing set for today in order not to give Duterte an excuse to avoid meeting the NBI. As of last night, the OVP had not issued a statement on the development.

The Department of Justice clarified yesterday that Duterte may request a rescheduling of her NBI appearance to accommodate prior engagements. According to DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres, Duterte’s appointment with the NBI could likely be set early next week, possibly Monday or Tuesday, due to the urgency of the matter.

Reporters covering the Office of the Vice President had been asking for a statement regarding Duterte’s possible appearance before the NBI but she and her communications team remained tight-lipped.

OVP media relations officer John Carlo Cahinhinan told reporters that all their queries “were already relayed” to the Vice President, but “no instruction so far.”

Duterte had earlier confirmed that her office had received the subpoena from the NBI summoning her to appear at the office of NBI Director Jaime Santiago in Pasay at 9 a.m. Friday.

The House panel is investigating the confidential fund expenses of the OVP as well as the Department of Education when Duterte was still its secretary in 2022 and 2023.

Her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, meanwhile, may have to remain in confinement at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) as the House – through its sergeant-at-arms – has yet to get an official update on her health condition.

“We will discuss it once we receive a report from the Sergeant-at-Arms,” Rep. Joel Chua said, referring to possibly releasing Lopez from the VMMC. The committee on good government chair cited Lopez in contempt for “undue interference” in its investigation.

The NBI is investigating potential violations of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, which pertains to grave threats.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Duterte said her remarks were “taken out of its logical context.”

Duterte justified hiring the services of a person to retaliate against the President, the First Lady and the Speaker to discourage them from going through with their alleged plot to kill her.

The Vice President said she saw the need to tap a “person to take revenge” due to warnings from two persons about a supposed plot against her life.

Meanwhile, in her speech during a gift-distribution event in Lingayen, Pangasinan yesterday as part of the OVP’s 89th anniversary celebration, Duterte called on the voters not to be swayed by campaign promises and receipt of relief assistance, especially as the campaign period for the 2025 elections draws near. - Christine Boton, Jose Rodeo Clapano, Cesar Ramirez