Sara Duterte's 'kill' remarks show capability, not just threat — Adiong

MANILA – House prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Sunday argued that Vice President Sara Duterte’s November 23, 2024 online video went beyond ordinary threats, as she explicitly detailed an arrangement to have individuals killed.

The impeachment charges against Duterte stem from an online press briefing where she claimed to have hired a hitman to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event that she is killed.

In a radio interview over dzRH, Adiong said Duterte’s own words suggested more than an angry outburst.

READ: VP Sara Duterte’s kill threats vs PBBM not protected by free speech — prosecution

“Hindi na pagbabanta ’yon. Ano na po ’yan? Meron na pong (That is no longer a threat. What is that? There is already a) capability. Because the understanding has already been made. The request has already been made and, as a response to that request, the hitman agreed … to carry out the order,” Adiong said.

He said the prosecution’s position is based on Duterte’s description of an alleged arrangement with another person, rather than on a simple expression of anger.

READ: Second witness will strengthen evidence vs Sara Duterte — prosecution

“Hindi lang po ito pagbabanta na, sabihin natin ‘pag galit ‘yung isang tao, naririnig naman po natin normally, ‘Patay ka sa akin,’ ‘Suntukin kita,’ ‘Papatayin kita,’ sabihin natin na ganoon (This is not only a threat that, let’s say when a certain person is angry, we normally hear, ‘you’re dead to me,’ ‘I will punch you,’ ‘I will kill you,’ let’s say it’s like that),” he said.

It’s different this time, referring to what the Vice President said that she had talked to someone, which means there was an agreement and an understanding, he added.

Adiong said Duterte went on to describe an alleged instruction to carry out the killings if anything happened to her.

READ: Defense argument: Sara Duterte’s threats not a high crime

“Ibig sabihin ‘meron na akong nakausap at sinabi ko sa kanya, may mangyari sa akin, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza at Martin Romualdez. Huwag kang titigil hangga’t hindi mo sila mapatay (Meaning to say, ‘I already talked to someone and I told him/her, something happened to me, you kill BBM, Liza and Martin Romualdez. You will never stop until you haven’t killed them). No joke, no joke,’” he said, referring to the statement presented before the Senate impeachment court.

Sara Duterte threats due to alleged plot vs her family

The defense has argued that Duterte’s remarks should be viewed in the context of an alleged plot against her, invoking what it called “Oplan Romanov,” an alleged operation that supposedly placed the Vice President under threat.

READ: Impeachment court pushes to speed up Sara Duterte trial — Lacson

The prosecution, however, has maintained that no evidence supporting the alleged plot has been presented before the Senate impeachment court. (PNA)

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