Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago said Wednesday that Vice President Sara Duterte did not cooperate with authorities in efforts to investigate her claims of threats to her life.

Speaking on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Santiago said the NBI had formally invited Duterte to participate in an inquiry before but she declined to appear.

“Hindi [siya] nagpunta,” Santiago said, adding that they attempted to contact the vice president twice, but only her lawyer responded, first citing a busy schedule and later conveying her refusal.

Santiago issued the clarification amid questions raised during the ongoing impeachment trial about the NBI’s handling of alleged threats against Duterte.

He stressed that the bureau did not initially ignore her claims and had taken steps to initiate an investigation, but lacked both cooperation and actionable information.

“Wala man lang din kaming information na paguumpisahan ng imbestigasyon,” he said.

“Hindi siya nakipag-cooperate samin,” Santiago added.

Santiago contrasted this with the alleged threat made by Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, which he said contained specific details that prompted investigation.

He added that Duterte’s claims of threats were largely made through public statements and social media rather than formal complaints submitted to authorities.

“Kung nagpunta siya sa NBI at sinabi nya na ganito, ipapa-subpoena namin yung mga tao na pinaghihinalaan niya,” Santiago said.

As far as the NBI was concerned during his tenure, Santiago said there was no verified threat against the vice president due to the absence of information and her lack of cooperation in the probe.