An online press conference in the middle of the night at an unlikely venue—a dimly-lit congressman’s office in the House of Representatives several weeks ago became the reason for Vice President Sara Duterte’s presence at Boying Remulla’s turf, the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week.
The Vice President was there to submit her response to a complaint by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over her supposed threat to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife the First Lady, Louise Araneta Marcos, and the House Speaker, Martin Romualdez.
Newsmen and political observers have pointed out that Sara’s action was a rare move for a sitting vice president. She did not need to attend that hearing personally.
Her lawyer, Atty. Michael Poa, pointed out the vice president’s commitment to due process.
Even after the unabashed arrest of the vice president’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and the Marcos government’s decision to turn him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC), it looks like the Oplan to undermine the political base of the Dutertes continues to be implemented.
"Our Vice President has been consistent — she has always said that she will face the accusations against her in the proper venue. This is now that opportunity," said Poa.
The NBI complaint accuses Duterte of inciting to sedition and making grave threats, stemming from a February 2025 speech in which she allegedly declared, "Kill Marcos!" Her camp maintains the remark was "maliciously taken out of context."
It is clear from the video coverage of that midnight presscon that the threatening words were uttered by Sara in a fit of anger, and the “threats” to the lives of Bongbong, Martin and Liza were predicated on if the vice president herself is assassinated.
NBI director Jaime Santiago used to be a judge and is still a lawyer, and there is strong reason to assume that he has a working understanding or comprehension of plain English.
It is interesting to note that Sara Duterte came to this predicament because Princess Maui, a blogger, asked her about concerns by her supporters on the vice president’s personal security.
Would you believe that there was even a mention about the Romanovs in Russia during discussions about the Duterte family’s security risks during this time? Princess Maui had to consult Google to know who the Romanovs were and what happened to them in Russian history.
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One indicator that the political cauldron was boiling in the runup to the midterm elections is the rise in violent incidents targeting journalists, especially media men based in the provinces.
First was the murder of veteran newsman and former mayor of Kalibo, Johnny Dayang, who was gunned down while watching television in his home in Kalibo. The police are now pursuing leads and trying to catch the perpetrator.
Then, the van of newsman Manny Jaudian was torched by unidentified suspects in Sagay town, Camiguin province last Saturday at around 2 a.m.
Jaudian is a past president of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club and runs a news podcast called “Kalandrakas” with the Mindanao Daily News.
Before, during and after the elections, violent attacks against media personnel are expected to persist, and the Philippine National Police should cope with this problem.
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