VICE President Sara Z. Duterte could face a separate legal front after her impeachment trial if the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) continuing investigation produces additional evidence involving the alleged plan to assassinate the President.
House impeachment adviser and spokesperson, former Surigao del Norte Rep. and Gov. Robert Ace Barbers, said the prosecution would evaluate the legal consequences of the bureau’s findings once the investigation develops further.
“But what I can say is that we will consider all possible legal actions that may happen after the impeachment trial,” Barbers said in an interview on Morning Matters over One News.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag testified that the bureau was treating Duterte’s alleged statements as a plan affecting national security and had formed a task force to pursue persons of interest.
The bureau’s investigation is separate from the Senate proceeding, which determines Duterte’s constitutional accountability and fitness to remain in public office.
“Well, remember, hindi lang naman ‘yung impeachable offenses ang iniimbestigahan dito,” Barbers, former chair of the House Quad Comm during the 19th Congress, explained.
Article IV centers on Duterte’s public statements involving President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
The NBI, meanwhile, is continuing to determine the identity of the person Duterte allegedly contacted and whether the alleged arrangement exposes her or others to criminal liability.
“This is a continuing threat to the national security because it is a continuing threat to the President of the Republic,” Barbers, former chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, stressed.
He said information developed after the prosecution closes Article IV could remain valuable to law enforcement even if it is no longer needed to establish the impeachment charge.
“So, anything more than that, ‘yung maaari pang madagdag tungkol sa threat to the President and to the national security, would be a valuable information for the NBI,” Barbers noted.
Barbers said the prosecution would decide its response based on the evidence and circumstances that emerge from the continuing inquiry.
“So I guess we will probably cross the bridge when we get there,” he added.
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