Sara camp on NBI charges: As expected

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte,  in a statement sent to reporters yesterday, said she expected the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s recommendation for criminal charges, which set into motion the legal storm she would be facing this year on top of the impeachment trial.

Since the NBI started investigating Duterte for grave threats and violating the anti-terrorism law last year over her remarks against President Marcos and his family, she had been saying that she was prepared for the “worst case scenario” where she would be facing multiple cases, including impeachment complaints, and face arrest for possible non-bailable offenses connected to the NBI’s investigation.

Duterte had skipped all of the NBI’s invitations to speak during the course of its probe, saying it would not have mattered as the Marcos administration had allegedly predetermined the filing of the complaints.

The Vice President had also earlier expressed skepticism on the fairness of the NBI investigation, stressing how Marcos had declared that he would not allow criminal acts to go unpunished.

She was referring to Marcos’ pronouncements following Duterte’s press conference late last year where she talked about contracting a person to kill the President, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez if their alleged plot to kill her succeeds.

Duterte also stressed last year that she did not regret revealing having tapped a person to “take revenge” on the three.

The remarks made in the virtual press conference prompted Malacañang to raise security for the First Family and triggered investigations by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice.

Political maneuvering

Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro city, councilor Girlie Balaba has spoken out in defense of Vice President Duterte, saying the impeachment proceedings are part of political maneuverings within Congress.

Balaba accused Romualdez of orchestrating the impeachment proceedings due to Duterte’s potential 2028 presidential bid.

“Romualdez clearly maneuvered the House of Representatives because he is threatened by VP Sara’s possible candidacy in the next national elections. This is pure political backstabbing of a former ally who no longer holds power,” said Balaba, the PDP-Laban regional chairperson for Northern Mindanao.

Despite a majority of Mindanao lawmakers supporting the impeachment, Balaba remains optimistic about PDP-Laban’s senatorial candidates, citing strong regional support for Duterte allies.

The party’s slate includes reelectionist Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, along with lawyer Raul Lambino, musician-lawyer Jimmy Bondoc and lawyer Jesus Hinlo. –  Gerry Lee Gorit