House panel to NBI: Submit report on Sara Duterte ‘threats’ probe

This report is part of Inquirer’s special coverage of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings. For real-time updates, follow our live coverage of the impeachment.

MANILA, Philippines — The House justice panel ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to present the findings of its probe on the “threats” made by Vice President Sara Duterte.

The chair of the House committee on justice, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, granted the motion of Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores.

“The committee is directed to issue the necessary subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to the NBI,” Luistro said.

Before this, Flores, vice chair of the House committee on justice, said: “I would like to move that we issue a subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum for the NBI to present results on the investigation of the threats.”

“There is a motion to issue a subpoena to the NBI with regard to the allegations of threat committed by the respondent, Vice President,” Luistro said. “Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is granted.”

To recall, Duterte said that she supposedly instructed someone to kill Marcos, his wife Liza, and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez if she were killed.

This remark is among those used as a basis for the impeachment complaints against Duterte. 

READ: Solon: Sara Duterte’s threat vs Marcos ‘always an impeachable offense’

After further deliberations and at least a one-third vote endorsing it, the House will then transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate, which will act as judges in her impeachment trial.

If convicted, Duterte will be removed from office and barred from holding any public post.

Duterte is the first one to announce her presidential bid in the 2028 elections. /das /atm