President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte lead the Basic Education Report 2024 at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City on January 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday said it was investigating Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

Over the weekend, Duterte accused various government officials of corruption and claimed Speaker Martin Romualdez wanted her dead. She said she had arranged for Marcos, Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to be killed if that happened.

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CIDG chief BGen. Nicholas Torre III said the agency was working to determine whether Duterte's claim about having hired a hitman was true.

“Nandoon tayo sa level na ‘yon, ‘yon talaga ang abot naming – kung totoo nga bang may hitman, kung totoong baka wala namang hitman, o baka naman ‘yan ay figure of speech na naman. ‘Yon ang ating mga titignan diyan. And we will be including all of those and considering those in our investigation,” he said in a media briefing. 

(We are looking into whether there is any truth to the claim of a hitman. We are also considering the possibility that this could be a figure of speech, or that there might be no hitman at all. This is what we are investigating, and we will include all these possibilities in our assessment.)

Torre said the CIDG would submit its findings based on the facts and relevant laws, and that it would be up to the Marcoses, Romualdez, or other branches of government to decide what actions to take.

“The investigation report will be forwarded to the proper authorities kung sino ang magpa-file ng case because this could be something that will need a private complainant; this could be be something that can be taken up by other branches of the government; this could be taken up by the SolGen and the other instrumentalities kung saan direction nila ipupunta o dadalhin ang imbestigasyon na ito,” Torre said.

(The investigation report will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities, who will determine whether to file a case. This may require a private complainant, or it could be taken up by other branches of government, including the Solicitor General and other agencies, depending on which direction they decide to pursue.)

“If there is a need to subpoena other resource persons or other subjects or witnesses on this matter, we will cross the bridge when we get there. As of the moment, this early, we’re just making the investigation proper,” he added. 

On Saturday, Dutertte said: “May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kaniya na kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. Nagbilin na ako.” 

(I have talked to someone. I told him that if I am killed, he should kill [Marcos Jr.], Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke. I already left instructions]

“‘Pag namatay ako, sabi ko, 'wag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapatay sila and then he said 'yes',” she said.

(If I am killed, I said, don't stop until you have killed them, and then he said 'yes'.)

Duterte has said that her remarks were not a threat, but a statement of concern for her safety. Her supporters dismissed this as a hyperbole.

Her followed a lawmakers’ decision to transfer her House-detained Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez to a correctional facility in Mandaluyong. The order came after the Vice President stayed overnight within the House premises after visiting Lopez on Thursday.

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The House panel is investigating the confidential fund use of Duterte’s office. Duterte has denied allegations of corruption and fund misuse, saying that the House investigation was part of political persecution.

House to zero in on VP Sara Duterte’s fund use despite ‘attempt to deflect’ probe: lawmaker