Photo: VP Sara

MANILA, Philippines – Shortly after her non-appearance at the National Bureau of Investigation morning of Wednesday (December 11), Vice President Sara Duterte lent her attendance to a thanksgiving lunch with members of the media to say she believes the NBI will not conduct a fair investigation on her kill plot against the administration. 

“With regard to patas, I don’t think magiging patas itong imbestigasyon na ito,” Duterte said, citing President Marcos Jr.’s marching order of not taking such criminal acts lightly. 

In her letter to NBI Director Jaime Santiago she particularly stressed that the NBI, being an attached agency of the Department of Justice, reports directly to the President making it reason enough for her camp to dispel promises of impartiality.  

“Nakita na natin sa pronouncements ng President na meron nang bias doon. Kung nakita niyo rin ‘yung interview ng isang Usec ng Department of Justice sabi niya a threat is a threat,” she said. 

“So kahit pa man pumunta ako doon, hindi ako pumunta doon, we believe that cases will be filed. Kahit pa sabihin nila na merong imbestigasyon sa simula pa lang nagdesisyon na sila na mag-file sila ng cases,” she said. 

Santiago noted that a counter affidavit or a sworn statement would be a better response than a position letter but Duterte’s move not to attach her affidavit is upon the advice of her lawyers since she already stated her stand. 

Duterte says her team is looking at removal from office, impeachment and multiple cases to be filed as the worst case scenario. 

No plan to leave, hide 

Duterte also stated that she does not plan to leave the country and hide should warrant for her arrest be served. 

“Mainly because my children are here so if I [get] detained I want to be able to see my children. I have no plans of doing that. I have no plans of leaving the country to hide,” she said. 

Defense prep 

Unlike her evasive stance with government investigations, Duterte said her camp is now preparing their defense for possible cases to be filed against her including the two impeachment complaints, a possible third one and other cases as well. 

The Vice President said the former President Rodrigo Duterte also offered to pay lawyers for her impeachment case but she refused to accept her father’s help since her team already had preparations in place. 

“Nagsabi si Pangulong Duterte na magpapadala siya ng pera para sa pambayad daw ng mga abugado kasi alam niya na napakaraming mga abugado ngayon ang kinuha para sa iba’t-ibang mga kaso,” she said. 

“Pero nagsabi na rin ako, through my brother kasi ‘yung kuya ko ‘yung sinabihan niya, nagsabi ako na ‘wag na lang siya magpadala ng pera dahil nakapaghanda naman na kami para sa impeachment case,” she said. 

Apart from her father, Duterte also received an offer of help from SAGIP Party list Rep. Dante Marcoleta to lawyer for her. But just like her response to the former President, Duterte said Marcoleta will be better off doing his work as a member of the House of Representatives.