VETERAN lawyer Lorna Kapunan on Saturday strongly criticized Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, calling any public official who issues threats “lutang” and urging that she undergo a psychiatric evaluation as questions grow over her conduct.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Kapunan said Filipinos should look beyond legal arguments and examine the character and behavior of leaders, especially those seeking the presidency.
“Tignan rin natin apart from all of these legal arguments, tayong taong bayan, tingnan natin ang demeanor, ang conduct ng isang presidente—ang vice president na gustong maging presidente,” Kapunan said.
Kapunan said threats have no place in public office, regardless of how they are explained.
“Ang tawag ko dyan noon lutang. Because if you are a sitting public official, you do not threaten. Maski na sabihin nila exaggerated naman ‘yan eh, hyperbole naman ‘yan eh. Hindi po. Wala kayong karapatan,” Kapunan said.
She emphasized that public officials are held to a higher standard and cannot hide behind claims of exaggeration.
“Public officials ay walang karapatan na mag-hyperbole o mag-exagge. Because you are the leader of the people. You are public officials and you are accountable for what you do,” Kapunan stressed.
The issue stems from a Nov. 23, 2024 press conference where Duterte said she had contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez if she herself were killed, adding that it was “no joke.”
The remarks are now central to the impeachment proceedings before the House Committee on Justice, which has already found probable cause to impeach her on the remaining complaints.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed before the panel that the 2024 video was authentic, unaltered, and not AI-generated.
Its findings, submitted to the Department of Justice, support charges for grave threats and describe the statements as part of a “continuing threat” against the President.
Kapunan renewed calls for a psychiatric evaluation of the vice president, saying the seriousness of the statements demands closer scrutiny.
“Siguro, paalala ko lang, sinabi sa House Committee hearing, i-subject naman dapat ang VP to psychiatric evaluation. Iri-repeat ko ngayon, hindi natin kailangan ang isang lutang na Presidente or any public official,” Kapunan said.
