Sara Duterte snubs NBI probe anew

VICE President Sara Duterte was again a no-show at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) where she was expected to explain the supposed threats she issued against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In a press conference, NBI director Jaime Santiago said instead of showing up, Duterte again just sent her lawyer, Attorney Paul Lim, who handed over a letter where the VP vehemently denied threatening the first couple and Romualdez.

Santiago said the Duterte noted in her letter that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who ordered the conduct of a probe on her kill remarks against the Marcoses and the House speaker, was an alter-ego of the President, while Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who issued a statement for immediate and appropriate action on the matter, was the chief alter-ego.

“Given these facts, you will kindly understand our client’s prudence in her cooperation with your office, and her desistance from appearing at and giving any statement on December 11,” the letter read.

As he ensured that their investigation will be partial, Santiago said Duterte had already forgo her right to be heard.

“Hindi natin siya masisisi kung ganoon ang pag-iisip niya, but then kami nananatili malinis ang aming konsensya that the investigation will be fair. Wala kaming kinikilingan. Walang pinoprotektahan. Serbisyong totoo lamang,” Santiago said.

(We cannot blame him for thinking that way, but we remain with a clear conscience that the investigation will be fair. We are not biased. We are not protecting anyone. Only true service.)

This is the second time that Duterte snubbed the proceeding.

The first was on November 29.

The probe is in relation to Duterte’s remarks during a virtual press conference where she said that she already made a deal with someone to kill the Marcoses and Romualdez if she is killed first.

Duterte had an outburst following the detention of her chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, as ordered by the House committee on good government and public accountability, after she was cited in contempt for “undue interference” in their probe, particularly her supposed transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

She tagged the Marcoses and Romualdez amid the ongoing “political harassment” against her.