Remulla hopes Sara will attend DoJ probe

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla expressed the hope that Vice President Sara Duterte will attend Friday’s preliminary hearing at the Department of Justice (DoJ) into her alleged threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others killed.

“I hope she attends,” Remulla said. “It’s her right, and she should exercise it.”

But should Duterte not show up, Remulla said, “Yes, she can choose not to appear. She has legal representation.”

Regarding her security, Remulla said there has been no formal coordination with the Philippine National Police as of Thursday.

“None, actually. I just spoke to the security general today. It’s a routine matter handled by our respective offices, and I don’t anticipate any problems,” he said.

He added that security arrangements as a courtesy are typically coordinated between agencies: “We’re not just dealing with individuals — we’re dealing with respected officers.”

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon confirmed the DoJ will proceed with the preliminary investigation on Friday but said that Duterte’s attendance was uncertain.

“We don’t know if she’ll show up. What we know is there’s a scheduled hearing and her attendance is her call,” he told reporters.

The hearing was called to look into a February 2025 online rant by Duterte for which the National Bureau of Investigation recommended the filing of inciting to sedition and grave threats charges against her.

This after she said in the online press conference, she had instructed someone to assassinate the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.

Duterte has denied making a threat, claiming her statement was “maliciously taken out of context” and insisting that she was only exposing a perceived threat to her safety. She has also said she has no regrets over making the remark.

The controversy became one of the grounds for the impeachment complaint filed against her by the House of Representatives in February.

Fadullon said Duterte could still participate by submitting a sworn affidavit. “That will be recognized, but ideally, her presence would allow immediate clarifications if needed.”