MANILA, Philippines — Director Melvin Matibag of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) told lawmakers on Wednesday that the bureau was surveiling several people in connection with Vice President Sara Duterte's kill remark against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
"And just to let you know, we have leads already. ... I apologize that we cannot name the names of those individuals that we are following but we are zeroing [in] on several individuals already who might have been who she talked to...", Matibag told the House Committee on Justice.
The committee was hearing the two impeachment complaints against Duterte to determine whether there is probable cause to impeach her.
The complaint filed by several people including priests alleged that she committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayed public trust and committed high crimes "in contracting to murder or assassinate" President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. The complaint cited a Nov. 23, 2024 briefing with the media wherein she said, "[...] may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez."
Duterte has denied making an assassination threat against Marcos.
The other complaint, filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera, alleged that she "committed acts that constitute culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes, by publicly admitting the contracting of an assassin".
Duterte's answer to the complaints said the complaints failed to show "any shred of proof" that a contract to kill ever existed. "Instead, complainants rely on exaggerated conclusions dressed up as fact", it read.
