The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday issued a fresh subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte, requesting her presence on December 11 to address her controversial remark about ordering someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if she were to die.
Investigation Details
NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed that Duterte is under investigation for grave threats in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and potential violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. The allegations stem from her statements allegedly targeting President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte was initially scheduled to appear before the NBI on November 29 but requested a postponement after learning late that a House committee hearing she planned to attend had been delayed.
Requests and NBI Response
Duterte’s camp also requested:
- A copy of the complaint and documents that prompted the investigation.
- A list of questions the NBI intended to ask during her appearance.
However, Director Santiago clarified that the NBI would not provide advance questions.
Possible Next Steps
Should Duterte fail to attend the December 11 hearing, Santiago said the NBI would proceed to submit its evidence to Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors.
Duterte has maintained that her remarks were “maliciously taken out of logical context,” denying they were intended as threats.
Background
The investigation comes after the NBI authenticated a video where Duterte reportedly issued the controversial statements. The agency has vowed to cooperate with the Ombudsman should the latter choose to take over the probe.