Sara camp to present witnesses to prove alleged 'Operation Romanov'

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Monday said it will present witnesses to prove the existence of the so-called “Operation Romanov,” the alleged plot to eliminate her and the Duterte family.

Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan made the statement after Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo asked whether the defense intended to call witnesses regarding the alleged operation.

READ: WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026

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“Yes, your honor, that will be part of our evidence in chief,” Vinluan told the Senate impeachment court during the fourth day of Duterte’s trial.

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When asked if one of the witnesses would be vlogger Princess Maui, who raised the issue of Operation Romanov during an online press conference with Duterte in November 2024, Vinluan said the decision would depend on how the trial progresses.

“At this point it will depend on what has been established by the prosecution, the defense reserves its right to call or not call any witness depending on the course of the trial,” he said.

Tulfo then shared that he himself first heard about Operation Romanov from Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte during a forum in Davao on January 28, 2024.

Vinluan, however, said he had no knowledge if the information Baste shared during the hearing had any relation with the operation brought up during the November 2024 press conference.

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READ: WATCH: Prosec panel outlines testimony of new impeachment witness

The defense first invoked Operation Romanov on the third day of the impeachment trial to explain Duterte’s controversial statement that she had supposedly contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

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According to the defense, this remark—which is central to impeachment complaints being tackled by the court against Duterte—was merely an “unconventional” but “justified” response to genuine threats against her and her family, including Operation Romanov.

Asked by Tulfo what the defense meant by “unconventional,” Vinluan responded: “The basic meaning of the word will explain itself.” /dp

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