Romer Butuyan 
HINDI pwedeng isantabi ang assassination plot laban sa Pangulo.
Ito ang nagkakaisang pananaw ng mga government security agencies kaugnay ng pagbabanta ni Vice President Sara Duterte laban kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos at dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Sa pagsalang bilang testigo sa impeachment trial sa senado, idinetalye ni Atty. Jeremy Lontoc na nagsilbing hepe ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cyber Crime Division ang naging resulta ng imbestigasyon sa November 23, 2024 online news conference ni Duterte.
Sa pagtatanong ni Prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, sinabi ng ranking NBI official na naglabas ng magkakahiwalay na pahayag ang National Security Council (NSC), Philippine National Police (PNP) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa ginawang pagbabanta ng bise presidente.
“The National Security Council considers all threats to the President of the Philippines as serious. Any and all threats against the life of the President shall be validated and considered a matter of national security,” saad sa NSC statement na binasa ni Lontoc.
Ibinahagi rin ni Lontoc ang pahayag ng pambansang pulisya na nagsabing: “The Philippine National Police treats any threat to the safety and security of the President and all public officials with utmost seriousness.”
“In light of Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent statements, which directly referenced an assassin contracted to target the President, the PNP recognizes the grave nature of this matter.”
“The safety of the President is a national concern and any direct or indirect threat to his life must be addressed with the highest level of urgency.”
Reaksyon naman ng AFP — “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is a professional organization focused on its mandate to protect the people and the state. Our personnel are loyal to the constitution and the chain of command.”
Samantala, nanindigan si Lontoc na mandato ng NBI agarang imbestigahan ang anumang pagbabanta sa hanay ng mga matataas na opisyal ng bansa.
“Under the law, specifically Republic Act 10867, the NBI has primary jurisdiction to undertake investigations on cases among others, cases involving threats to security and assault against the persons of the highest officials,” anang NBI official.
Kabilang aniya sa mga “persons of the highest officials ang nakaupong pangulo, bise-presidente, Senate President, House Speaker at Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema.
Sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga sa nasabing pagbabanta ng nasasakdal, sinabi niyang mayroong silang nakitang “prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction” laban sa bise presidente.
Ito’y tugon niya sa pagtatanong ni Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero kung may nakitang batayan ang NBI para sampahan si Duterte ng mga kasong grave threats at inciting to sedition.
“Based on your investigation, was there enough basis to file a criminal complaint as you did not for the crimes you charge the vice president with prima facie evidence only not as to whether or not she committed it because only the court can determine that?,” usisa ni Escudero.
“Yes, your honor. Based on our findings we believe that the vice president committed a crime of grave threat and inciting to sedition,” sagot ng NBI official.
“In so far as satisfying the requirement of prima facie evidence sufficient to file a case?,” tanong ulit ni Escudero.
“Prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction,” tugon ni Lontoc.
“Yes, that would be a more complete description of what you have to comply with before you can file a case?” Hirit pa ng presiding officer.
“Yes your honor, yes po,” pagtatapos ng NBI official.
