NBI reschedules VP Sara’s appearance to Dec. 11

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Duterte was subpoenaed by the NBI following her statement that she has contracted an assassin to target President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, as well as House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is assassinated first. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday rescheduled Vice President Sara Duterte’s appearance before the agency to Dec. 11 after her lawyers requested a resetting.

In an interview, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said lawyer Paul Lim submitted Duterte’s letter requesting to appear at a later date.

“We expected the Vice President to appear at 9 a.m. Actually, nagpadala na ng advance party and checked the premises early this morning. But then, dumating dito ay si Attorney Paul Lawrence Lim with a letter requesting for a resetting (Actually, an advance party was sent and checked the premises early this morning. But then, Attorney Paul Lawrence Lim arrived with a letter requesting a resetting),” he said.

“Apparently, the Vice President ay late na niya nalaman na canceled ang kanyang appearance before the House Committee hearing. So, tapos nag-hindi na siya nakapunta dito and asked for a resetting (the Vice President learned late of the cancelation of her appearance before the House Committee hearing. She already said she could not come here and asked for a resetting).”

He clarified that the Vice President did not suggest a preferred date and that it was the NBI that decided to set her appearance on Dec. 11.

Santiago also said they would comply within the day with the request of the Vice President’s lawyers for a clearer copy of the complaint against her.

Duterte was subpoenaed by the NBI following her statement that she has contracted an assassin to target President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, as well as House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is assassinated first.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua earlier announced the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s postponement of its Friday hearing to avoid any overlap with the NBI’s probe into Duterte’s alleged assassination threat against the President.

The postponement came after Duterte requested the NBI to reschedule her summons to prioritize her attendance at the House inquiry.

The House panel is currently investigating the alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary in 2022 and 2023.