Daily Tribune‘My understanding from my lawyers regarding the NBI investigation is that I don’t need to be present’
Nattional Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime B. Santiago faces members of the press on Wednesday, holding up a two-page letter sent by Vice President Sara Duterte explaining her failure to comply with an NBI subpoena.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Aram JAN Lascano FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE
Vice President Sara Duterte once again skipped her scheduled meeting with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to explain her remark about having President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others assassinated.
Earlier, Duterte said her lawyer told her her presence was not required so long as she submitted an affidavit.
“My understanding from my lawyers regarding the NBI investigation is that I don’t need to be present. I can simply submit a letter or affidavit. Secondly, we have thanksgiving activities on 11 December, and third, after the activities, I will be returning to Davao City to bury my uncle,” Duterte said in Filipino.
The Vice President was set to attend the initial probe on 29 November but begged off because she was to attend a House hearing that she said she learned too late had been postponed.
Duterte is being investigated for possible violation of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code in connection with Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act 10175), as well as potential violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479) following her admission she had contracted someone to assassinate the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.
The NBI investigation is focusing on Duterte’s online tirade made in a late night press conference.
Her online rant followed the House Quad committee’s citation of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, in contempt and her detention on the House premises. Later, Lopez was rushed to a hospital and was to be transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said they will wrap up the investigation of the Vice President and no more meetings will be scheduled.
He said NBI lawyers will compile all the evidence and testimonies of everyone who attended the Zoom press conference before making a recommendation to the Department of Justice.
“By January 2025 we will submit our findings and recommendations to the DoJ,” Santiago said in a press conference yesterday.
Santiago said they will make sure the probe will be fair and square. “Wala tayong papanigan at kikilingan (We will neither side with nor favor anyone).”
