Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook

MANILA, Philippines – Along with her request for a resetting of her appearance before the National Bureau of Investigation, Vice President Sara Duterte also asked the NBI to furnish her a copy of the questions intended to be asked of her during the inquiry. 

Duterte skipped today’s NBI invitation set to investigate her statement of having sealed an agreement with an assassin to have President Marcos Jr. First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez murdered in the event she gets killed. 

In a letter sent to the NBI, Duterte’s camp requested for two particulars. 

1. “A clear copy of the complaint filed against her or any other document that initiated this investigation, including all attachments, if any; and” 
2. “Questions you intend to ask of her, regarding the above documents or subject matter of your investigation.”

Copy of the Vice President Sara Duterte’s request for resetting to the National Bureau of Investigation.

In response, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said, “We will comply with her requests dahil sa due process, out of respect dahil siya ang pangalawang pinakamataas na opisyal ng ating bayan.”

“Baka mamayang hapon lang makacomply na kami,” he said. 

As for the forwarding of the questions to be asked of the Vice President, Santiago said, “paguusapan namin ‘yan.” 

According to her lawyer Paul Lim, Duterte was a no show at the NBI today, Friday (November 29) because she prioritizes the hearing at the House of Representatives on the alleged irregularities involving the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education’s use of confidential funds. Members of the Committee on Good Government and public accountability yesterday however moved to give way to the NBI investigation. 

Santiago said Lim explained that the Vice President learned of the House’s cancellation late and even with the postponement of the congressional hearing, Duterte is still swamped with work relating to the investigation on matters concerning confidential funds. 

The former judge said the NBI sees no problem with granting the Vice President’s request for a resetting to give her lawyers ample time to build their defense. 

He also clarified that the NBI is principally focused on two matters; investigating her threat to the first couple and the House speaker and her claims of threats to her life. 

“We are investigating ‘yung video clips where nag threat siya na ipapapatay niya ‘yung President, the First Lady and the Speaker of the House,” he said.  

“She is also claiming that there is a threat on her life. Hindi namin i-te-take for granted ‘yan.”

“Baka gusto niyang makipagtulungan sa amin para maimbestigahan ‘yan. Remember and mandate namin is to step in whenever there is threat President, Vice President down hanggang sa Punong Mahistrado,” he said. 

Participants, OVP staff who organized media con also subpoenaed  

Apart from Duterte, all active participants in the zoom media con including the OVP staff who organized the presser as well as the owner of the platform were also subpoenaed by the NBI, said Santiago. 

“Tatanungin lang namin sila nung surroundings bakit nangyari yun, bakit nagkaroon ng deklarasyon na ganun si Vice President,” he said. 

In the wee hours of Saturday, November 23, a fuming Duterte called for a press conference to contest the supposed transfer of her staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez to the women’s correctional facility from the House of Representatives detention due to security issues. 

Duterte even called Lopez’ removal from House detention an “attempted homicide” because the latter feared for her life. 

This is where Duterte fused and hurled profanities at the administration including her controversial threat. 

About 10-12 members of the press, according to Santiago, were subpoenaed by the NBI. Divided into groups of four, the summoned reporters will be called in the coming days to personally appear before Santiago to shed light on the issue. 

“I-su-subpoena namin sila, mag shed light, tanungin namin kung nangyari ‘yun, they’re in her presence, nagtatanong sila, ayun surrounding those matters,” he said. 

NBI expects the Vice President to appear on the rescheduled inquiry on Wednesday, December 11.