DOJ hopes VP Sara attends hearing on “kill threat” vs. Marcos case

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

The case was filed before the Department of Justice after Duterte refused to honor the invitation of the National Bureau of Investigation to give her side. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said he “fervently hopes” that Vice President Sara Duterte would deem it proper to attend the resumption of the preliminary investigation of the charges against her.

The case involves Duterte’s pronouncement during an expletive-laden online briefing in November last year that she had already tapped an assassin to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if the supposed assassination plot against her were to succeed.

The case was filed before the Department of Justice after Duterte refused to honor the invitation of the National Bureau of Investigation to give her side.

“I think tomorrow na ang preliminary investigation niya (the preliminary investigation is Friday), I hope she attends, because it’s her right. Dapat lang talaga yung right niya gamitin niya (She should avail of her rights,” Remulla said.

However, Remulla said that the vice president could also opt not to attend the preliminary investigation.

“She knows that, she’s a lawyer,” he said.

As for security arrangements, Remulla said Duterte’s camp need only to coordinate with the panel of prosecutors.

“Wala naman eh (There’s no coordination). I think they’ll just talk to the prosecutor for that (security). Hindi naman ako kailangan kausap nyan (She need not talk to me) . They can talk to our people here. I don’t think there’ll be a problem coordinating for courtesy of the office. Syempre hindi lang tao yan eh, office yan na ginagalang natin (She is not an ordinary person, and we respect her office).”