The National Bureau of Investigation-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (NBI-BARMM) on Monday admitted that it failed to identify or verify the alleged hitman whom Vice President Sara Duterte claimed she had contracted to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc made the admission during questioning by Sen. Bam Aquino at the Senate impeachment trial, where Article IV of the complaint, which centers on Duterte's alleged grave threats, was being heard.

Aquino questioned why the NBI was unable to identify the person Duterte allegedly referred to in a viral video despite the seriousness of the alleged threat.

"My question is focused on the person who was spoken to or allegedly contracted by Vice President Sara Duterte to kill the President, First Lady, and former Speaker. Did you continue the investigation to find this person?" Aquino asked.

Lotoc acknowledged that the NBI had not validated or confirmed the identity of the alleged hitman despite issuing subpoenas to media personalities who attended the online press conference where Duterte made the remarks.

Aquino noted that while the Vice President's statements were clearly captured on video, the agency's inability to identify the alleged hitman meant the claim itself remained unverified.

"So, what you mean to say is that, as the NBI, you were not able to find this person. But you based your assessment on the statement because it was explicitly stated by the Vice President herself," Aquino said.

Lotoc said investigators nevertheless took the remarks seriously because of the Vice President's apparent anger and the language she used during the press conference. He added that the investigation remains open pending actionable information.

Earlier, Lotoc testified that the NBI concluded Duterte had the "intent, motive and capability" to carry out the threats she mentioned.

Defense cites discrepancies

During the hearing, Sen. Imee Marcos pointed to discrepancies between the date of the online press conference and the dates reflected in the NBI's investigation data form, subpoenas and affidavit.

Defense counsel Mark Vinluan argued that the inconsistencies raised questions about when and how the investigation formally began.

The defense also flagged an error in the affidavit stating that Duterte had resigned as secretary of the Department of Justice instead of the Department of Education. Lotoc described the mistake as a typographical error.

The defense likewise questioned differing docket numbers appearing in DOJ and NBI documents.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo said such technical lapses could weaken the prosecution's case despite the existence of video evidence.

"Next time, make sure the case you file is airtight," Tulfo told the witness. "Cases with weaknesses may end up being dismissed, and your hard work could go to waste."