VP Sara skips NBI hearing anew, sends letter instead of affidavit

NO SHOW. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago shows reporters a copy of the letter sent by Vice President Sara Duterte explaining her absence from a hearing on Wednesday (Dec. 11, 2024). This is the second time that Duterte failed to attend the NBI hearing on the alleged threats she made against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA photo by Ben Pulta)

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday failed to attend the hearing of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the alleged threats she made against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

It was the second time the Vice President failed to attend the NBI hearing, this time sending a letter through his lawyer Paul Lim.

“With respect, we must state the obvious that the Honorable Secretary of Justice is this office’s administrative superior, head of agency and the President’s alter-ego, while the Honorable Executive Secretary is the President’s chief alter-ago. Given these, facts you will kindly understand our client’s prudence in her cooperation with your office, and her desistance from appearing at and giving any statement on 11 December 2024,” the letter said.

In a press briefing, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said they had hoped Duterte would have opted to at least file an affidavit to dispute the charges.

“It (letter) is not the sworn statement that we are looking for or the counter-affidavit that we are looking for,” Santiago said.

The NBI chief said they are now compelled to continue with the probe without Duterte’s affidavit, and expect to complete the investigation by next month.

“So, we will just proceed (with the investigation). Remember we have the clippings, yung video clip ng kanyang presscon noong (the video clip of her presscon last) November 23, if I’m not mistaken. And then we subpoenaed several people and taken their statement. We interviewed them, so all these things pag uusapan na namin lahat (will all be discussed),” he said.

Santiago said they will also include the testimonies from journalists and bloggers in the investigation, after which they will convene a panel of investigators.

“Expect our recommendation, our report to the DOJ (Department of Justice) by early January,” he added.

Alleged threats vs. VP

In her letter, Duterte also reiterated the alleged threats on her life.

“We are also confident that given your letter’s assurance that the threats to our client are also being investigated, the same attention and vigor are being devoted thereto, notwithstanding the absence of any directive from your superiors,” the letter read.

However, Santiago said Duterte could have given her side on the alleged threats to her life if she had attended.

“She did not specify kung sino yung taong nag te-threat sa kanya, wala siyang sinama na proof kung ano yung threat na yun. Ibinalik niya lang sa amin yung sinasabi ko na we will investigate. But then yung hindi niya pag appear ay hindi siya nakipag cooperate para malaman namin kung sino nag tre-threat sa kanya. Kasi wala naman specific eh (She did not specify who is threatening her life, nor did she gave proof what kind of threat it was. She just gave back what I earlier said that we will investigate. But then, her failure to appear means she is not cooperating for us to know more about the threat on her. Because there are no specifics),” he said.