CIDG probing alleged VP Sara ‘hitman’

CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Monday said it is looking into the veracity of Vice President Sara Duterte’s pronouncement that she hired a hitman to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Yan ang talagang tutok ng PNP kasi specifics na ‘yun. Nandun tayo sa level na ‘yun. ‘Yun talaga ang abot namin kung totoo nga bang may hitman, baka naman walang hitman or baka naman ‘yan ay figure of speech na naman. ‘Yun ang ating mga titingnan diyan (The PNP is looking into that matter because we have specific details. We are at that level. Is there really a hitman? Maybe there is no hitman and it was another figure of speech. These are the things we are looking at) and we will be including all of those in our investigation,” CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said at a press briefing held at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

He said they would identify the facts of the case, make a chronology of events and analyze and discuss the possible laws violated by Duterte.

“The investigation report will be forwarded to the proper authorities to determine who must file cases because this could be something that will need a private complainant. This could be something that can be taken up by other branches of the government. This could be taken up by the SolGen (Solicitor General) and the other instrumentalities,” Torre said.

“If there is a need to subpoena other resource persons or other subjects or witnesses on this matter, we will cross the bridge when we get there. As of the moment, this early, we’re just making the investigation proper,” he added.

In the same press briefing, PNP information chief and spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the police will also look into the handling of the transfer of Duterte’s chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center from St. Luke’s Medical Center, both in Quezon City, on Saturday.

“For the record, the presence of the police officers in the area is upon the request of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of Congress. They were just there to assist the legislative security bureau of the Sergeant-at-Arms and again, if there are lapses on the part of the PNP personnel, then the PNP will take action,” Fajardo said.

In a video circulating on social media, Duterte confronted a police officer who tried to close an ambulance door while she was still standing right behind it.

Lopez was detained at the House of Representatives facility in Batasan, Quezon City after being cited in contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and public accountability over alleged “undue interference” on Nov. 20, amid an ongoing investigation on the alleged irregularities in the use of funds of the Office of the Vice President.

Citing security concerns, the panel ordered her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Lopez, who was then accompanied by Duterte, went hysterical and later fell ill which prompted authorities to bring her to a hospital.

Duterte contested the transfer of Lopez to Mandaluyong.

AFP: No mobilization of troops

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, refuted posts circulating online, claiming that it has initiated the mobilization of troops in connection with current events.

In a statement, the military said these posts are “completely false and misleading.”

“These claims come from unreliable sources and are not supported by any official AFP releases. Such misinformation only serves to create unnecessary panic and confusion,” it added.

The AFP said it remains focused on fulfilling its mandate with professionalism, dedication, and loyalty to the Constitution and the chain of command.

“Attempts to undermine our military and democratic institutions with these fraudulent posts will not be tolerated,” it added.