‘Operation Romanov’: Sara defense vows to prove plot vs Dutertes

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team announced Monday that they will call forward witnesses to substantiate “Operation Romanov,” an alleged plot targeting her and the Duterte family.

Defense attorney Mark Vinluan confirmed this after Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo questioned whether the defense planned to present witnesses regarding the alleged plot.

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

“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.

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.

READ: ‘Bloodbath’ remark carries no violent meaning – Sara Duterte defense

‘Operation Romanov’ first heard from Baste Duterte

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.

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.

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

READ: Impeachment trial pivots to VP Sara’s fitness for office — prosecution

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