THE country’s security agencies considered Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s assassination threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as “serious” and “a matter of national security,” the Senate impeachment court was told Monday.
Lawyer Jeremy Lotoc, a National Bureau of Investigation regional director, detailed before senator-judges the result of his team’s investigation into the threats made by the Vice President in a Nov. 23, 2024 online news conference.
Aside from President Marcos, the country’s No. 2 elective official threatened the First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos, and then Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, with assassination if she herself were killed.
On questioning by Amando Virgil Ligutan, a prosecution counsel, Lotoc said in the course of his investigation, he noted the expressions of concern on the Vice President’s statements issued by the National Security Council (NSC), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He quoted the NSC statement: “The National Security Council considers all threats to the President of the Philippines as serious.
“Any and all threats against the life of the President shall be validated and considered a matter of national security,” he said.
The witness said the PNP, in its statement, referred to an assassin the Vice President claimed to have contracted to carry out her assassination threats.
“The PNP used the term assassin,” he said.
He read the PNP statement: “The Philippine National Police treats any threat to the safety and security of the President and all public officials with utmost seriousness.
“In light of Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent statements, which directly referenced an assassin contracted to target the President, the PNP recognizes the grave nature of this matter.
“The safety of the President is a national concern and any direct or indirect threat to his life must be addressed with the highest level of urgency.”
On the other hand, Lotoc said the AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner issued the following declaration: “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is a professional organization focused on its mandate to protect the people and the state. Our personnel are loyal to the constitution and the chain of command.”
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