THE House prosecution panel on Wednesday argued that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s own statement about having arranged for a hitman to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. if she herself were killed constitutes a betrayal of public trust, one of the constitutional grounds for impeachment.
House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said the alleged admission itself raises serious questions about the conduct expected of a public official sworn to uphold the law.
“The mere fact that she had that idea and made an understanding, an agreement with a person whose livelihood is sourced out from killing people, is already a betrayal of public trust,” Alonto Adiong said during a press briefing.
“Kasi she is expected to uphold the law, she is expected to promote the rule of law that no one should take justice into their own hands,” she said
Alonto Adiong said someone occupying the country’s second-highest office should have reported the alleged existence of a hired killer to authorities instead of supposedly negotiating with such a person.
“’Yun mismo ’yung alam niya na merong mamamatay tao at hindi niya ito pinagsabi sa mga pulis, sa mga ahensya ng ating gobyerno, at siya mismo ang nakipag-usap. That alone is a betrayal of the oath that she has taken prior to the assumption as Vice President of this land,” Alonto Adiong said.
The issue arose as prosecutors continued presenting evidence before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Duterte of making grave threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
To support the charge, the prosecution presented National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, who authenticated Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online media briefing containing the alleged threats.
He also identified official statements issued by the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Security Council and other government agencies, showing that the remarks prompted security assessments and formal investigations.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution’s evidence is intended not only to prove the authenticity of Duterte’s recorded statements but also to show why government agencies considered them a matter of national concern.
“I think it’s not only about establishing the veracity and the authenticity of these video clips, but more important is what the effect of the threats that she made against the President to the whole nation,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Anong epekto nito? Hahayaan ba natin ito na basta-basta na lang ma-express without accountability?” He asked.
He said investigators had no choice but to act because the alleged threats were directed at the country’s chief executive.
“You cannot also expect that the agencies will not do anything to investigate because it was said in a manner by which it should be taken seriously,” Alonto Adiong said.
“The threat was done, directed not just for an individual, but it is directed against the head of state, head of government, and the commander-in-chief. That’s why it is also a national security concern,” he said.
According to Alonto Adiong, the participation of several law enforcement and security agencies reflected the seriousness with which the government viewed Duterte’s remarks.
“That’s why many agencies came in and investigated if there was indeed an agreement that was made and reached by the respondent and the hitman,” Alonto said.
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