Duterte impeachment trial: Day 2 to tackle assassination plot

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez are expected to take center stage on the second day of her impeachment trial on Tuesday.

The 92-day trial will begin with Article IV, the first of four articles of impeachment, which focuses on Duterte’s public declaration of an alleged assassination plot targeting the three officials.

The House prosecution panel is expected to call to the witness stand two officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

READ: Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Chiz elected presiding officer

NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc and Senior Agent John Mark Calilung were subpoenaed to appear before the impeachment court on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Notably, Sheila Sison, lead counsel of Duterte’s defense team, expressed their intent to object to the testimonies of the two.

READ: Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Cebu City cops ready for rallies

To recall, Duterte made the assassination pronouncement in an online briefing on November 23, 2024, after visiting her Chief of Staff, Zuleika Lopez, when the latter was detained at the House for contempt.

Frustrated over Lopez’s detention, Duterte badmouthed the first couple and Romualdez before revealing that if she gets killed, she contracted an assassin to kill the three.

This prompted the NBI to investigate the matter, with Calilung assigned to investigate and authenticate the veracity of the livestream.

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