HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the impeachment prosecutors, on Sunday stressed that Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements about ordering the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is a grave crime that poses a direct threat to national security.
“Hiring or even suggesting the hiring of an assassin is not just reckless rhetoric; it is a high crime that threatens the very foundations of our Republic,” Defensor, a lawyer, said.
“It is an attack not just on the individuals named but on the institutions they represent, especially the Office of the President, which is at the core of our government and national security framework,” he pointed out.
Defensor underscored that the President of the Philippines is the commander in chief of the Armed Forces, the country’s highest military authority, whose safety and security are matters of national interest.
“A crime against the President is not merely a personal offense; it is a crime against the Filipino people and a direct assault on national security,” he stressed.
“Any attempt, suggestion, or conspiracy to harm the Commander-in-Chief creates instability, weakens public trust, and emboldens elements that wish to destabilize our government,” he added.
Defensor explained that the Vice President, as a high-ranking government official, is bound by her oath to defend and uphold the Constitution.
Instead, Defensor pointed out, her alleged statement: “Pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta [Marcos], at si Martin Romualdez” demonstrates a disturbing willingness to resort to violence as a political tool.
“It does not even matter that the statement was conditional. The mere utterance of such threats in public, followed by the assurance that it was not a joke, already constitutes a crime. This reckless declaration reveals a blatant disregard for the rule of law, demonstrating that the Vice President herself does not trust the very foundations of our legal system. By normalizing violence as a response to political conflict, she sets a dangerous precedent and a terrible example for the nation—especially as one of the highest officials in the land, sworn to uphold the Constitution and the democratic principles it enshrines,” Defensor said.
Defensor warned that the alleged statement could constitute multiple criminal offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder, inciting to rebellion, and grave threats, all punishable under the Revised Penal Code.
“This is not just about impeachment; this is a matter of law enforcement,” he explained. “Threatening or conspiring to harm the President is a serious crime that demands immediate investigation and accountability.”
He emphasized that the House of Representatives had no choice but to impeach Duterte, given the severity of her actions, which he described as “a betrayal of public trust and a gross violation of her duties as Vice President.”
Defensor urged the Senate, law enforcement agencies, and the national security sector to treat this case with the urgency it deserves.
“If this is allowed to pass without consequences, it will send a dangerous message that even the highest officials of the land can threaten national leaders and institutions without accountability,” he warned. “That is a risk we cannot afford to take.”
He also called on the public, the military, and all democratic institutions to stand firm in upholding the rule of law and preserving the integrity of the government.
“The Filipino people deserve leaders who safeguard democracy, not those who threaten it with violence and lawlessness,” Defensor said. “We will ensure that this case is prosecuted with the full force of the law and that justice prevails.”
With Duterte’s impeachment already approved by the House, the case now moves to the Senate Impeachment Court, where House prosecutors, led by Defensor and his colleagues, will present irrefutable evidence to prove that her actions constitute grounds for removal from office.
“This is not just about political survival; this is about upholding the Constitution and defending our democracy from those who would subvert it through threats and violence,” he said.
