Duterte’s threats probed sans complaint due to NBI mandate – Calilung

MANILA, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent John Mark Calilung said on Wednesday that Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Marcos Jr. were investigated based on the agency’s mandate, despite the lack of a complaint.

After being cross-examined by the defense panel, Calilung made the confirmation after Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo asked why the NBI began its investigation when the three offended parties did not file a complaint.

“Our basis, your honor, is our primary objective to investigate threats against the president, vice president, Senate president, [House Speaker, and] Supreme Court. If we find sufficient evidence that a crime was committed, we will file a case, as that is the output of our investigation,” Calilung explained in Filipino.

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READ: Impeach court hears VP ‘threats’ to kill Marcos

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Answering a subsequent question by Senator-Judge Migz Zubiri, Calilung said that their mandate to investigate such threats is based on Republic Act No. 10867, or the New NBI Law.

Earlier, defense counsel Carlo Narvasa asked what prompted the investigation. Calilung answered that it was a motu proprio investigation, meaning it was conducted “without a complaint.”

Later, Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano asked how Calilung began investigating Duterte’s statements.

Calilung replied that an executive officer ordered him to investigate a “statement of the vice president… where a threat was mentioned.”

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Cayetano then questioned how the NBI classified the threat, considering Duterte stated that someone had already agreed to assassinate the three individuals “if she dies.”

READ: Prosecutors claim Day 2 victory at Sara Duterte impeachment trial

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Although Calilung classified the threat as “conditional” in his affidavit, he testified that his personal assessment deemed it “absolute.”

“Based on the statement, someone was already spoken to; that agreement occurred even before the meeting… The statement created a loophole that a third party could exploit, so that if the VP dies, they can execute her directive without the participation of the [three mentioned],” he explained in Filipino.

Senator-Judge Joel Villanueva also asked Calilung what factors are considered when classifying statements as threats.

“One of the considerations for an active threat is if the person making it is capable of doing so… If they have the capability or power to implement such a threat, it is considered,” Calilung replied.

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He added that they also considered how the threats were delivered, noting that Duterte said “no joke, no joke” right after making them. /mcm