National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc told the Senate impeachment court Tuesday that Vice President Sara Duterte has the capability to carry out her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
Responding to questions from Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian during the fifth day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Lotoc answered “definitely” when asked whether the vice president could carry out the alleged assassination threat.
Asked to explain the basis for that assessment, Lotoc initially cited Duterte’s position as the country’s second-highest elected official.
When Gatchalian noted that holding the office of vice president alone does not establish such capability, Lotoc said investigators also considered the background of Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Lotoc noted that the former president is currently detained in The Hague while facing charges before the International Criminal Court related to alleged crimes against humanity involving extrajudicial killings.
Lotoc said the NBI considered those circumstances, together with Duterte’s position as vice president, in concluding that she had the capability to carry out the alleged threat.
The testimony relates to Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which stems from Duterte’s 2024 remarks about President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
