Vice President Sara Z. Duterte (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Vice President Sara Duterte said she will once again skip the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigation on her alleged death threat against President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� R. Marcos Jr.
Duterte made the pronouncement after previously asking the NBI to move the schedule of its initial summon on Nov. 29. The NBI has since rescheduled it to Wednesday, Dec. 11.
鈥淪a pagkakaintindi ko sa explanation ng mga abogado ko sa investigation ng NBI ay pwede namang hindi pumunta, 鈥榶un ang explanation nila dahil pwede naman daw magsubmit na lang ng sulat or affidavit, depende sa aking desisyon, or position paper so hindi rin ako makapunta,鈥� said Duterte in an interview with GMA Regional 黑料社 on Monday.
(From what I understand from my lawyers鈥� explanation of the NBI investigation, I can choose not to go, that鈥檚 their explanation because they said I can just submit a letter or affidavit, depending on my decision, or a position paper.)
Asked why she won鈥檛 be able to go again, Duterte cited her office鈥檚 Thanksgiving activities, as well as a wake she has to attend in Davao City.
鈥淢eron kaming thanksgiving activities sa December 11 and after Thanksgiving activities ay pauwi rin ako sa Davao city para maglibing ng uncle ko,鈥� she said.
(We have Thanksgiving activities on December 11 and after Thanksgiving activities, I will also be going home to Davao City for my uncle鈥檚 burial.)
In its initial subpoena, the NBI asked Duterte to present evidence on its investigation of alleged grave threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No, 10175).
The document also stated that Duterte may have violated the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479).
Amid these complaints, Duterte is also facing impeachment complaints.
Duterte said she welcomes the impeachment complaints lodged against her before the House of Representatives.
鈥渓 welcome na finally nai-file na yung impeachment case na sinasabi nila na i-file nila since last year pa,鈥� said Duterte.
(I welcome that the impeachment case they鈥檝e been saying they would file since last year has finally been filed.)
She claimed she would much rather face an impeachment case, as it would mean that only she would be investigated, while her office鈥檚 personnel would be spared.
She also saw this as a chance to once and for all address all accusations against her.
鈥淎t least kung meron tayong impeachment case, masagot na nang final kung ano 鈥榶ung mga inaakusa nila sa akin,鈥� she said.
(At least if I have an impeachment case, I can finally answer their accusations.)
Apart from the NBI investigation and the impeachment raps, Duterte is also facing complaints for grave coercion, direct assault, and disobedience鈥攁ll of which were filed by the Philippine National Police.
She is also facing disbarment complaints before the Supreme Court.
Most of these stemmed from her recent remark where she claimed that she instructed someone to kill Marcos, his wife Liza, and cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez if she too is killed.