National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago holds a press conference after Vice President Sara Duterte failed to appear at the NBI. INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines – Is there a government’s inaction on the threat to the life of Vice President Sara Duterte and personnel of the Office of the Vice President?
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago said the threat to the President was immediately classified as a threat to national security because it was the Vice President herself who issued it.
“Yung nagte-threat sa kanya, hindi natin alam kung sino. Hindi nya sinasabi. Diyan natin kailangan ang cooperation ni Vice President. Sabihin nya sa amin kung sinu-sino yung mga tao, kung meron syang ebidensya na nagte-threat sa kanya, iimbestigahan po namin yun,” Santiago said.
(We don’t know who’s threatening her. She’s not telling us. That’s why we need the vice president to cooperate. She needs to tell us who she thinks is doing it and if she has any proof. We’ll look into it.)
Santiago pointed out that it is the NBI’s mandate to investigate the threats to the President, Vice President, even to the Chief Justice.
Duterte earlier lamented the “diametric contrast and inaction” displayed on the threat to her life and her personnel versus the threat to the President.
READ: Sara Duterte on kill plot vs Marcos: ‘A plan without flesh’
Duterte was expected to give her statements to the NBI on Friday but did not show up. Her counsel said they were belatedly informed that the House Committee hearing which she was invited was canceled.
READ: VP Sara Duterte no show at NBI asks for rescheduling
Santiago said Duterte was expected to give statements on two points–about the statement on the kill order against the President, First Lady, and House Speaker and second, give details on the threats to her life and the lives of her personnel.
“We are not taking for granted the threat to the Vice President,” Santiago said.