NBI finishes probe into Duterte's threat vs. Marcos
The National Bureau of Investigation has wrapped its probe into the alleged death threats Vice President Sara Duterte made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said in a palace press briefing on Jan. 13 that after the investigation, there is still a need to further reevaluate it.
"We are sending prosecutors over to look at the evidence and evaluate the evidence that is in the custody of the [NBI]," he said.
Depending on the outcome of the probe, the National Prosecution Service will recommend whether Duterte's case will be filed before the Department of Justice or it will be returned to the NBI for further build-up.
"The NBI and the DOJ are working closely together to ascertain the evidence we have on hand," Fadullon continued.
During a midnight press briefing in November, Duterte made a threat against Marcos, her former running mate during the 2022 elections. This comes after a months-long probe into the OVP that reached a boiling point when her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was detained after being cited in contempt by the House of Representatives.
The VP later backtracked and said that her statement was "taken out of its logical context."
She was since summoned by the NBI to shed light into the probe into her threats but did not appear.
Duterte faces several legal woes including three impeachment raps and complaints of direct assault, disobedience, and grave coercion filed by the Philippine National Police.
On Jan. 3, Marcos removed her from the National Security Council alongside other past presidents of the country to foster "an environment conducive to effective governance and stability."
