NBI 'obligated' to probe assassination plot vs. Marcos —Palace

Malacañang on Wednesday said it is up to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the revelation of Ramil Madriaga that former President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly plotted an assassination—or, if not, a coup—against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked how "concerning" is the supposed assassination plot given that it was not the first time that threats against the President's life were made.

''Hindi na nga po na bago ito, ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng Pangulo. sinimulan na nga po ito ng Bise Presidente, nadinig na rin po natin si Mayor Baste Duterte. So, hindi na po kailangang mag-utos ng Pangulo para imbestigahan ito,'' Castro said.

(These threats against the President's life were not new. The Vice President started this and we also heard this from Mayor Baste Duterte. The President doesn't need to order for an investigation regarding this.)

''Ang NBI po, kayo po ay nakatalagang mag-imbestiga sa mga ganitong klaseng death threats sa Pangulo at kahit sinumang ordinaryong tao, mayroon po kayong obligasyon na imbestigahan ito,'' she added.

(The NBI is mandated to investigate these kinds of death threats against the President and any individual, you have an obligation to investigate this.)

Before the House justice panel during the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President on Tuesday, Madriaga alleged that Marcos and the Duterte camp had agreed during a November 2021 meeting—before the 2022 presidential elections—that Marcos would step down in 2025 to pave the way for a Sara Duterte presidency.

Read: Who is Ramil Madriaga?

According to Castro, Marcos has been informed of the statements made by Madriaga, who is a confessed bagman for Vice President Sara Duterte

Castro said Marcos was surprised by the allegations, saying that he has no knowledge of this as he made a commitment to serve the public and finish his term by 2028.

''Ang Pangulo po ay nangampanya sa taumbayan, nangako na maglilingkod sa taumbayan, at nangakong tatapusin ang kaniyang termino para sa bayan,'' Castro said.

(The President campaigned to the public, promised to serve them, and he also made a commitment to finish his term for the country.)

The camp of the Vice President already rejected Madriaga's allegations, calling his statements “pure fiction” and lacking evidence.

In a statement, Duterte’s legal counsel Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. has said Madriaga’s claims of a supposed secret term-sharing agreement, a planned ouster, and assassination plots against the President were “not even remotely believable.” —VAL, GMA News