The House probe into Vice President Sara Duterte’s so-called confidential fund mismanagement has been postponed to give way to the coinciding hearing of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday into her alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chairperson Joel Chua told reporters on Thursday that it was a collegial decision, anchored by the fact that the issue involving the NBI’s investigation posed significant implications and national concern.

“We decided to postpone the committee hearing for tomorrow to pave the way for the NBI's investigation so that [Duterte] can't use it as an excuse to answer the complaint there,” Chua said. “This NBI issue is very important, and it concerns national security.”

The NBI had agreed to reschedule its initial hearing on Friday at Duterte’s request to attend another investigation in the House.

Chua’s committee allowed Duterte to leave its hearing on Monday to attend to her Special Disbursing Officer, Gina Acosta, who was rushed to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center after her blood pressure spiked to 150/100 during the inquiry into the OVP’s secret funds.

Duterte, however, promised lawmakers that she would appear at the subsequent hearing.

Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V defended the committee’s decision, saying that the NBI’s investigation takes precedence.

“These are both equally important proceedings. But it is also very important that the questions be answered and that the NBI investigates accordingly. It's not a joke; these are grave threats,” Ortega said in the same briefing.

“We don't want to be a reason or an obstacle so that Vice President Sara does not face the subpoena from the NBI. She has to face the complaints, issues, and cases with the NBI,” Assistant Majority Leader Jefferson Khonghun also told reporters.

A visibly enraged Duterte openly announced in a virtual press briefing last week that she had already instructed someone to assassinate the President, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if the supposed plot against her succeeded.

Duterte dropped the bombshell amid what she called the continuing political attacks against her by administration allies, including the ongoing House probe into her use of millions of confidential funds.

Key government officials, including Malacañang, lamented that it was an active threat to the highest leader of the country, which warrants legal action.

Although Duterte contended that her statement was “maliciously taken out of logical context,” allies said the magnitude of the threat must not be taken lightly, considering that it would be beneficial to the VP if the supposed plan to kill the President succeeded.