The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now investigating the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she contracted a person to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, if an alleged plot against her succeeds.
“The matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation. If the evidence warrants, this could lead to eventual prosecution,” the DOJ said, as forwarded by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to members of the media on Sunday.
Duterte made the kill remark early Saturday morning during a media conference at the House of Representatives where Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff and undersecretary Zuleika Lopez was detained after being cited in contempt.
“Huwag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez,” Duterte said.
(I’ve already spoken to someone, so don’t worry about my security. I told that person to kill BBM [Marcos’ initials], Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez if I were to be slain.)
“Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. ‘Pag namatay ako, huwag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said ‘yes.”’
(Ma’am, I’ve already left a directive. After I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them all. And then he said, “Yes.”)
The Vice President was accompanying Lopez in a House detention facility after the lower chamber ordered to transfer the latter to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW).
Lopez then fell ill and was brought to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.
Duterte later on clarified that her “assassination” statement was not a threat, claiming she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security.
Both the Presidential Security Command (PSC) and the National Security Council (NSC), however, consider the Vice President’s remark as a matter of national security. —Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News
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