The House prosecution panel on Wednesday argued that Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged admission that she had arranged for a hitman to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. if she were killed constitutes a betrayal of public trust, one of the constitutional grounds for impeachment.
House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the statement, if proven, raises serious questions about the conduct expected of a public official who is sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution.
“The mere fact that she had that idea and made an understanding, an agreement with a person whose livelihood is sourced out from killing people, is already a betrayal of public trust,” Adiong said during a press briefing.
“Kasi (because) she is expected to uphold the law, she is expected to promote the rule of law that no one should take justice into their own hands,” he added.
Adiong said that instead of allegedly entering into such an arrangement, the Vice President should have reported the existence of a hired killer to law enforcement authorities.
The prosecution made the argument as it continued presenting evidence before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Duterte of making grave threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the prosecution presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent John Mark Calilung as a witness.
Calilung authenticated Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online media briefing in which she allegedly made the statements cited in the impeachment complaint.
He also identified official statements issued by the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Security Council, and other government agencies showing that Duterte’s remarks prompted security assessments and formal investigations.
Adiong said the prosecution’s objective extends beyond establishing the authenticity of Duterte’s recorded statements.
“I think it’s not only about establishing the veracity and the authenticity of these video clips, but more important is what the effect of the threats that she made against the President to the whole nation,” he said.
He added that authorities had a duty to investigate because the alleged threats were directed at the country’s highest-ranking official.
“You cannot also expect that the agencies will not do anything to investigate because it was said in a manner by which it should be taken seriously,” Adiong said.
“The threat was done, directed not just for an individual, but it is directed against the head of state, head of government, and the commander-in-chief. That’s why it is also a national security concern,” he added.
According to Adiong, the participation of several security and law enforcement agencies in the investigation demonstrated the seriousness with which the government viewed Duterte’s remarks.
The Senate impeachment court is currently hearing the House prosecution’s presentation of evidence on Article IV, one of the Articles of Impeachment filed against Duterte.
The Vice President has repeatedly denied the allegations against her.
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