DOJ hopes Vice President Duterte attends hearing on alleged threat to kill Marcos

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday expressed hope that Vice President Sara Duterte would appear before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the resumption of the preliminary investigation into allegations she made a threat to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and two other officials.

The case stems from Duterte’s online statement in November 2024, where she allegedly claimed during a profanity-laced briefing that she had arranged to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if an assassination attempt against her succeeded.

Following her refusal to respond to an earlier invitation from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to explain her side, the DOJ proceeded with a formal probe.

Remulla said the next hearing is scheduled for Friday and expressed that Duterte should exercise her right to attend and participate. “I hope she attends, because it’s her right. She should make use of her right,” Remulla told reporters.

He added, however, that Duterte, a lawyer herself, may also choose not to attend the proceedings. “She knows that. She’s a lawyer,” he said.

Remulla assured that the DOJ is prepared to accommodate any security concerns and logistical coordination for the vice president’s appearance. “There’s no issue. If they coordinate with the prosecutors, that should be enough. She is not just an ordinary citizen, and her office is accorded the appropriate courtesy,” he said.

No official statement has been released by Duterte or her legal team regarding her expected attendance.

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