NBI identifying hitman for alleged assassination plot vs Marcos

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating the identity of a hitman allegedly contracted by Vice President Sara Duterte for an assassination plot against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said this on Wednesday during the hearing of the House justice committee on the impeachment complaint against Duterte. He also reiterated the NBI already has a lead on the hired assassin.

"We have some personalities under surveillance. But I have to apologize na we cannot name the names of those individuals na aming sinusundan but we're zeroing on several individuals already na maaaring 'yun ang kinausap niya sa threat na ginawa niya," Matibag told the House panel.

(We have some personalities under surveillance. I have to apologize that we cannot name the names of those individuals we're investigating but we're zeroing on several individuals that she may have hired.)

According to the NBI, the alleged hitman may be one of Duterte's 500-man security detail. Matibag underscored it is "unusual" for a Vice President to employ hundreds of security personnel, saying former Vice President and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo only has around 30 security personnel.

Duterte's security detail included active and former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the NBI added.

"May ongoing investigation and we are coordinating with other agencies so we can pinpont who is that individual," Matibag added.

In an online briefing on November 23, 2024, Duterte said she had ordered someone to kill Marcos, the First Lady, and then Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot against her were carried out.

The NBI later recommended the filing of a complaint against Duterte due to her remarks.

Duterte later clarified that her remarks were not a threat, saying she was only highlighting an alleged threat to her own security and that her statement had been "maliciously taken out of logical context." —AOL, GMA News