ASEANEWS HEADLINE-VP DU30 IMPEACHMENT 7.14.26 DAY #5 | MANILA: Witness: VP Sara Duterte capable of carrying out threats
NBI Bangsamoro Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc takes the witness stand for continuation of a cross-examination during Day 5 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday, July 14, 2026. —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
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MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc told the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday that Vice President Sara Duterte was capable of carrying out her assassination threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, as prosecutors sought to establish that her remarks constituted grave threats and betrayal of public trust.
On the fifth day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Lotoc stood by the NBI’s finding that the Vice President’s statements were “serious, real and active,” adding that she had both the intent and the capability to execute them.
Lotoc, formerly chief of the NBI’s Cybercrime Division that investigated Duterte’s remarks, testified that investigators found the elements of the crime of grave threats had been satisfied, prompting the bureau to recommend the filing of charges before the Department of Justice.
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READ: Highlights: Day 5 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 14, 2026
Asked by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian whether Duterte had the capability to carry out the threats, Lotoc replied: “Definitely.”
When Gatchalian pointed out that her office alone did not necessarily give her that capability, Lotoc cited her political background.
“We know the background… her father was a former president… So we look into that, that indeed being in that situation, she has the capability,” he said.
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READ: Lotoc: Actual sedition not required to charge inciting to sedition vs VP Duterte
Gatchalian also questioned the basis for the NBI’s conclusion that Duterte had contracted someone to kill the President, the first lady and Romualdez.
Lotoc said the bureau relied on Duterte’s own public statements, particularly her Nov. 23, 2024, online press conference and a Nov. 26 interview in which she reiterated that she had spoken to someone to exact revenge should she be killed.
“We believe the Vice President was not kidding when she made those remarks. So our stand, she has spoken to somebody,” Lotoc said.
“So our belief, the Vice President has talked to somebody. Now, insofar as who that person was, insofar as the existence of that person, the one who can answer that, since it’s their job, is our intelligence service or our director,” he added.
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He acknowledged that the Cybercrime Division had no independent evidence identifying the alleged hit man or confirming such a person existed.
Asked whether the bureau’s conclusion rested solely on Duterte’s statements, Lotoc answered: “Yes. Statements and admission, Sir.”
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Denial not enough
The NBI official said Duterte’s written denial was insufficient to negate the offense.
“Mere denial would not discount the fact that she made those utterances and that she talked with somebody,” he said.
Lotoc testified that investigators wanted to personally question Duterte to determine whether she had indeed contracted someone but that she did not appear before the bureau.
“That’s the problem there… that’s why we want to talk to her personally so that we can ask other questions, so that we can see if it’s true that the Vice President contracted somebody or not. But she was not there, she didn’t appear,” he said.
“Her answer was mere denial, there’s no basis, even circumstantial basis. So, we didn’t include as a factor in considering whether or not a crime of grave threat has been committed by the Vice President,” he added.
During redirect examination, private prosecutor Amado Virgil Ligutan underscored that Duterte has never denied making the controversial statements. Instead, Lotoc said, she merely denied hiring an assassin.
Lotoc pointed to Duterte’s Nov. 26 interview, saying it showed she repeated rather than retracted her earlier remarks.
“It shows that the Vice President did not joke when she uttered those utterances,” he said.
He also dismissed typographical errors in NBI documents raised by the defense, saying they did not affect the bureau’s findings.
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“It does not alter the fact that the findings of the NBI is that the Vice President committed the crime of grave threats and inciting to sedition,” Lotoc testified.
Prosecutors argue that Duterte’s public threats against the President and his family constitute betrayal of public trust, an impeachable offense under the Constitution, saying the remarks demonstrated conduct unbecoming of the country’s second-highest official and raised questions about her fitness to remain in office as the constitutional successor to the presidency.
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‘Romanov’ examined
Senator-judges also questioned Lotoc about the so-called “Operation Romanov,” which Duterte has cited in claiming there were threats against her life.
Responding to Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Lotoc said the NBI found that the term “Romanov” originated from Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte during a January 2024 rally and was directed at President Marcos and his family, not at the Vice President.
“Insofar as our investigation is concerned, we could not validate any other Romanov operation,” Lotoc said.
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He added that information provided by vlogger Princess Maui, who raised “Operation Romanov” during Duterte’s Nov. 23 online briefing, was deemed unreliable after she failed to appear before the NBI to substantiate her claims.
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‘Defense missed substance’
Lotoc said the bureau found no validated threat against Duterte, adding that its inquiry stalled because neither the Vice President nor her camp provided actionable information or cooperated with investigators.
Before Lotoc’s redirect examination, prosecution adviser Robert Ace Barbers said the defense failed to undermine the NBI official’s testimony, arguing its cross-examination focused on “typographical and clerical errors” instead of its substance.
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Vice President Sara Duterte meets with members of her impeachment defense team, led by Atty. Sheila Sison, at the Senate on Tuesday, July 7, ahead of the resumption of her impeachment proceedings.
“Our evidence is still strong—and even stronger,” he said.
Prosecutor-spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said the defense tried to rationalize Duterte’s threats as protected speech but failed to answer whether such remarks were proper for a high-ranking public official.
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Kabataan Rep. Renee Co added that since Duterte never denied making the statements, the impeachment case remains intact. —WITH A REPORT FROM MARC ANDRE ESGUERRA
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