MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday said it had “no problem” with Vice President Sara Duterte’s bid to reschedule its summons for her to explain her alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The NBI had subpoenaed Duterte to its headquarters on Friday to explain her statement that she had instructed that Marcos, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos be killed should an alleged plot to kill her succeed.

But the Vice President said Wednesday that she requested to reschedule the summons to prioritize a hearing at the House of Representatives, where her aides were being questioned on the use of confidential funds.

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While the NBI has yet to get a copy of Duterte’s request, its director Jaime Santiago said, “Wala naman hong problema, pupuwede naman ma-resched.” 

He reiterated that the investigation would be “impartial.”

The law mandates the NBI to look into threats against the President, Vice President, and other officials, he added. 

“Hindi pupuwede kaming tumahimik lang dahil may threat, may plan of assault, kaya kami nagsti-step in na para maliwanagan natin ito,” Santiago told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.  

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The Department of Justice (DOJ), meanwhile, said it may grant Duterte’s bid to reschedule her appearance before the National Bureau of Investigation tomorrow, Nov. 29.

Duterte was summoned by the NBI to explain her remarks in an early morning weekend press conference where she said she had hired someone to kill Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged assassination plot against her succeed.

But the vice president said she asked to reschedule her summon to be able to attend to the continuation of the House committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing into the alleged fund misuse of OVP and Department of Education also on Friday, Nov. 29.

DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres said they may allow the rescheduling but only until next week.

"Kung siya po ay maghahain ng request at sasabihin niya na dahil po merong naunang engagement at pag-imbita ang Kongreso sa kanya at siya po ay dadalo du'n sa congressional hearing, eh marahil po ay pagbibigyan namin na ma-reschedule ito ngunit agad agad din po possibly Monday or Tuesday next week,” Andres said.

The DOJ official underscored the need for the investigation to commence as soon as possible.

“Seryoso po ang sitwasyon, seryoso po ang banta kaya kailangan po naming ipatawag ang bise president para magbigay po ng kanyang pahayag at impormasyon kung sino 'yung kinausap niya para magpatupad ng pagpatay sa ating pangulo, kay first lady at kay Speaker Martin Romualdez,” he added.

As of Thursday afternoon, Andres told reporters that the NBI has yet to receive a formal letter from Duterte requesting for reschedule.

DOJ said on Tuesday that Duterte could face complaints for libel, defamation, and grave threat for her remarks against the President.

Duterte on Tuesday said her statement was taken out of context. She said the "revenge" plot had a specific condition before it could be put into motion: that she had to die first.

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She added that her remark "does not constitute to an active threat."

"Common sense should be enough for us to understand and accept that a supposed conditional act of revenge does not constitute to an active threat. This is plan without a flesh," the Vice President said.

"Tossing the word 'assassin' into this issue makes things even more terrifying - and especially because I never used that term during my recent consternation against the Marcos administration's failure to serve the Filipinos while it masterfully persecutes political enemies," she said.

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