MANILA, Philippines – Iginiit ng kampo ng depensa ni Vice President Sara Duterte nitong Martes na ang kanyang pahayag tungkol sa pagpapapatay kay President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ay tugon lamang sa isang tanong at hindi maituturing na banta.
Sa ikalimang araw ng impeachment trial laban kay Duterte, ipinagpatuloy ni defense lawyer Mark Vinluan ang pagtatanong kay National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director for the Bangsamoro Region Jeremy Lotoc.
Si Lotoc, ang ikalawang testigo ng House prosecution panel, ay tumestigo kaugnay ng Article IV ng Articles of Impeachment na tumatalakay sa umano’y pagbabanta at assassination plot laban kay Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, at former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Dating pinuno ng NBI Cybercrime Division si Lotoc, na nag-imbestiga sa online press conference ni Duterte noong Nobyembre 2024. Sa naturang briefing, sinabi ng Bise Presidente na kumuha siya ng isang tao upang patayin sina Marcos, ang First Lady, at Romualdez sakaling siya mismo ay mapatay.
Ayon kay Vinluan, hindi maituturing na banta ang mga pahayag ni Duterte.
“It is our position that the statements made by the Vice President were not threats in the first place. That’s why we were categorizing it as a mere response to a question and answer,” aniya.
“It was never aimed directly at the President, First Lady, and the former Speaker. In other words, had they not watched the video, they wouldn’t have known about it. In other words, your Honor, there was no threats to begin with and even the discussion on the elements is not applicable insofar as determining the innocence or guilt of the Vice President,” dagdag pa ni Vinluan.
Tinanong din ng abogado ng depensa si Lotoc kung ang grave threats at inciting to sedition ay mga felony at kung maaari itong ituring na impeachable offenses.
“If you mean impeachable offenses, whether or not magka-qualify ba siya as betrayal of public trust, it’s the appreciation of the judges, your Honor. Wala po sa amin,” giit pa ni Lotoc.
Samantala, humingi ng paglilinaw si Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III kung bakit tinatalakay ang grave threats at inciting to sedition gayong ang mga kasong ito ay isinasampa sa mga regular na hukuman.
“Naliligaw ako..sa discussion ng grave threats and inciting to sedition. Hindi ba sa regular courts naka-charge yun, Mr. Witness?” tanong ni Sotto.
Sumang-ayon dito si Lotoc.
“Pero sa regular courts ‘yun fini-file diba? Ang naka-file dito sa impeachment court ay betrayal of public trust diba tsaka other high crimes? Hindi grave threats at inciting to sedition?” ani Sotto.
“Pero hindi ‘yun ang main charge diba? Betrayal of public trust? Kasi naliligaw ako eh,” dagdag niya. RNT
