Vice President Sara Duterte will not receive a list of questions for the investigation into her “assassination” remark against the Marcoses and the House Speaker, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.
Speaking to DZBB on December 1, Santiago stated that the NBI plans to ask Duterte about the person she allegedly hired to kill Marcos if a supposed plot against her succeeded, along with details about the alleged threat to her life.
“Hindi po kami nagbibigay talaga ng mga questions,” Santiago said.
“Kaya ‘yun, ‘yung few questions na ‘yun, alam naman niya na ‘yun ang itatanong—bakit nasabi na nakapagbanta siya nang ganun, bakit may kinausap siyang tao, ‘yun ‘yung usual. Pero ‘yung other questions pa ay hindi na namin maibibigay,” Santiago added.
Duterte had requested the NBI last November 29 to provide her with a list of questions ahead of the investigation into her statement about hiring a hitman to target President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should she be assassinated.
The Vice President’s camp requested the NBI to reschedule the hearing, which has been moved to December 11 to allow her more time to prepare.
Duterte also asked the NBI for a clear copy of the complaint, other documents that initiated the investigation, and the list of questions they plan to ask her.
Santiago said that Duterte’s cooperation in the investigation would assist the NBI in uncovering more details about the alleged threats against her and President Marcos, whom the agency is tasked with protecting.
“‘Yun namang threat niya kay Presidente BBM…considered namin nag-waive siya sa right niya na ma-express ang kanyang reason, justification, whatever, bakit siya nag threat kay Presidente, First Lady, at Speaker of the House,” he said.
The NBI issued a subpoena to Duterte on Tuesday as she made the “assassination” remarks during a virtual press conference on November 23, following the House Quad Committee’s decision to transfer OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez from House detention to the Women’s Correctional Prison in Mandaluyong.
Lopez was cited in contempt for trying to block the release of Commission on Audit reports regarding the alleged misuse of OVP public funds.
However, Duterte maintained that her remarks were not “threats” in response to the National Security Council’s statement, which labeled her comment about the president as a “threat to national security.” (TCSP)