Vice President Sara Duterte has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to reschedule her summons, citing a scheduling conflict with her attendance at a House Committee on Good Government hearing this Friday.
Duterteโs decision underscores her commitment to supporting her staff amid ongoing congressional investigations.
Why the NBI Summons?
The Vice President is set to be questioned by the NBI for alleged grave threats and possible violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The investigation centers around her controversial statement about assassinating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed.
Duterte made the remarks during a heated virtual press conference where she criticized the Houseโs order to transfer her chief of staff, Atty. Zulieka Lopez, from detention in the House facility to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
However, Duterte later clarified that her statement was โtaken out of logical contextโ and was not meant as a threat.
Standing by Her Promise
In a press conference, Duterte emphasized her commitment to standing by the employees of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) who are called to testify in congressional inquiries.
โI requested to reschedule the invitation because of the conflict with our schedule in the House Committee on Good Government hearing,โ Duterte said.
โThey always ask me to be there, and that was my promise to them from the startโto accompany OVP employees summoned to hearings,โ she added, speaking in Filipino.
Whatโs Next?
The NBI has summoned Duterte to appear at its headquarters on Friday, November 29, 2024, to explain her contentious statement. Meanwhile, the House Committee on Good Government also has a hearing scheduled that same day, where Duterte plans to attend in support of her staff.
This latest controversy adds to the tension between Duterte and the Marcos administration, fueling public and political intrigue over the escalating dynamics between the countryโs top leaders.
Whether Duterteโs explanation will ease the mounting scrutiny remains to be seen, but her decision to prioritize the congressional hearing reflects her unwavering stance to back her teamโeven as the legal and political stakes rise.
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