MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has determined a “reasonable certainty of conviction” against Vice President Sara Duterte over charges of inciting to sedition and multiple counts of grave threats, based on statements she allegedly made during a November 23, 2024 virtual press conference.

The findings were presented during the House Committee on Justice’s final impeachment hearing on the determination of probable cause, where the NBI submitted its affidavit on alleged death threats made against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

NBI lawyer Yentl Malicad said the bureau established the elements of inciting to sedition, citing that Duterte was not a direct participant in any act of sedition, that she made seditious statements, and that these were expressed through speech.

NBI agent John Mark Calilung told lawmakers that the bureau verified and authenticated the video of the online press conference, confirming it had no edits, splices, or artificial intelligence manipulation. He added that Meta preserved the livestream, which was originally posted on the account of former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña asked whether the NBI also found grounds for grave threats, which Malicad confirmed.

He stressed that threatening to harm or kill a person constitutes a crime and said public officials are expected to be aware of this standard.

“Kung hindi tama ang ugaling ito para sa second highest official of the land, mas lalo hindi po ito karapatdapat para sa isang tao nag-a-ambisyon na maging highest official of the land. Grave threat, inciting to sedition, sinasabi ng NBI ginawa po yan ni VP Sara,” Cendaña said.

Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno also raised questions on whether the NBI identified the individual Duterte allegedly claimed to have contacted.

NBI Anti-Cybercrime Division Chief Jeremy Lotoc said he could not disclose details but maintained the bureau’s assessment that Duterte was referring to one specific individual allegedly linked to the statements.

“Definitely we believe na mayroon siyang kinausap at mayroon assassin na nakaassign, base po sa conversation. Based sa aming affidavit, VP Sara is referring to one and the same person,” Lotoc said.

FPJ Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe said the case had implications on national security, noting that the statements involved the Vice President and the President.

“This is no ordinary threat. This is a threat by the Vice President against the President of the Republic of the Philippines, and people around the world took note of that, questioning our stability and our national security,” Poe said.

He also cited a 2018 case involving the arrest of a teacher who made online threats against then-President Rodrigo Duterte, contrasting it with the current case.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed the earlier incident and said all threats against government officials are treated seriously regardless of intent.

“Hindi po ito pwede biro biro and ‘yung mga pinakita pong video kanina diyan, ‘yan po ay pinag-aralan at naging parte ng pagdedesisyon ng National Bureau of Investigation para maghabla ng isang criminal case po kay Vice President Sara Duterte na ngayon nakapending sa Department of Justice,” Matibag said.

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said the allegations provide insight into the Vice President’s character and called the case unprecedented.

“Never before in the entire history of the world has a sitting vice president threatened to kill the president and his wife on (a) livestreaming video for the whole Filipino nation and even the world to watch. It finally reveals Sara Duterte at her most transparent and unfiltered moment,” she said.