VP Sara Duterte Skips NBI Probe, Camp Submits Letter Instead
NBI – The National Bureau of Investigation refused to accept the letter submitted by the camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as her sworn statement.
It is already known among the Filipinos that the Dutertes are brave in uttering what is on their minds. However, many people did not expect the recent remarks of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte against the Marcoses amid her rift with the Chief Executive.
According to Duterte, she wants the death of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if a supposed plot against her life comes out victorious. Many people including key authorities in the country considered it a threat on the life of the Chief Executive.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) vowed to look into the statement of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also issued a subpoena against Duterte over her “threat” against Marcos Jr. The investigation bureau wants her to explain her remarks.
The investigation was initially scheduled by the NBI on November 29 but Duterte did not attend the probe. It was rescheduled today, December 11. However, the Vice President skipped the probe anew.
Only the lawyer of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte arrived at th headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation. Based on a report on GMA News, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the camp of Vice Pres. Duterte submitted a letter through her legal counsel, Attorney Paul Lim.
“Ang sabi sa sulat ay hindi na lang a-attend si Vice President Duterte at, instead, she vehemently denies the accusation that she threatened the president, the first lady, and the speaker,” Santiago said.
Furthermore, Santiago revealed that Duterte’s camp also said in the letter that the probe of the investigation bureau came after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin gave a statement and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a directive over her remarks against Pres. Marcos. In response to it, he assured that the bureau will be fair in the investigation.
“The investigation will be fair. Wala kaming kinikilingan. Walang pinoprotektahan, serbisyong totoo lamang,” the Director said.
Based on the report, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp tagged Remulla as allegedly the administrative superior of the NBI and the alter-ego of the President while Bersamin is allegedly the chief alter-ego. However, the NBI refused to accept the letter of the Vice President’s camp as her sworn statement.
“Meron lamang conformity ng ating vice president. Okay, so for us, there is no sworn statement, there is no counter-affidavit to speak of, na sinubmit si vice president,” NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.
Santiago also stressed that the letter was only signed and not penned by Duterte herself. Reportedly, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte skipped the probe for a lunch party with the media.