Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged assassination threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was not only an attack against individuals but also an attack on the country’s institutions, House prosecution legal spokesperson Atty. Jay Tolosa said on Monday.
During an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Tolosa noted that he had discussed the impeachment proceedings against Duterte over her remarks that she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, the First Lady, and Romualdez if she herself were killed.
Tolosa said prosecutors have repeatedly emphasized the testimony of Senior National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent John Mark Calilung, who described the alleged threat as “absolute.”
“We have to always emphasize na si Agent Calilung mismo ang nagsabi na the threat is absolute at that's pointed out by public prosecutors,” Tolosa said.
He stressed that the issue goes beyond a personal dispute, saying the alleged threat involved the head of state and the presidency as an institution.
“Kailangan natin tandaan dito, ang attack dito is not just against a person, it's against the institution, attack against the institution. It's attack against the head of state, ito yung presidente,” he said.
Tolosa pointed out that Duterte, as the country’s second-highest elected official, was the person accused of making the statement.
He added that the seriousness of the matter was heightened by the fact that the Vice President would allegedly stand to benefit if something happened to the President.
“Ang gumawa ng attack na ito ay yung pangalawang pinakamataas na lingkod-bayan ng ating bansa,” he said.
“Kung sino ang direktang makikinabang kapag nangyari itong masamang bagay na ito sa buhay ng presidente, kaya ganyan ho 'yun kaseryoso,” Tolosa said.
He added, “So ang pinag-uusapan dito, at the end of the day, ay kung ang ganitong klaseng pananakot, ganitong klaseng pag-amin na may agreement na sa isang mamamatay-tao para gawin ito, ay katanggap-tanggap ba.”
Tolosa further highlighted that Duterte had previously said her statement was “no joke” and insisted that the remark had not been withdrawn.
“Huwag natin kalimutan, sinabi na mismo, no joke, no joke. Seryoso talaga at hindi iyan binawi,” he said.
He said the impeachment proceedings aim to determine whether Duterte remains fit to continue serving in public office.
“Katanggap-tanggap ba ito para sa pinakamataas na public servant, public official, lingkod-bayan ng ating bansa? Dahil iyan ang purpose ng impeachment — to see yung fitness to continue to be in public office,” Tolosa said.
