On the fourth day of the impeachment trial, an official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the agency has found no validated information that would allow it to identify or pursue the alleged hitman whom Vice President Sara Duterte was accused of contracting to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything were to happen to her.

Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, regional director of NBI-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said this when he was asked whether the bureau had conducted an investigation to determine the identity of the alleged contract killer.

Lotoc was the head of NBI Cybercrime Division at that time, which investigated Duterte's late-night online press conference on November 23, 2024.

“We tried to elicit information both from those people who have personal knowledge during the online press conference,” Lotoc said.

“Unfortunately, wala hong kaming ma-establish na validated information, na confirmed. So, in fact, hanggang ngayon nag-aantay po kami. Hindi ho katulad dito sa nangyari, may apparent commission of the crime dahil nandyan ‘yung video eh,” he added.

Lotoc made the statement in response to a question from Senator-Judge Bam Aquino on whether NBI had pursued an investigation to determine the identity of the alleged hitman.

Aquino then followed up by asking whether the NBI had taken the Vice President's "kill" remarks literally in its assessment.

Lotoc said Duterte’s alleged threats were assessed as “serious” and “real.”

“Well, Your Honor, if the second highest official of the land sinabi ‘yan, hindi ho biro ‘yan. Medyo mabigat ho ‘yan at ‘yung pagkasabi pa niya na may kasamang galit at mga pagmumura. So we took it very seriously,” Lotoc said.

NBI also said it believes Duterte may have already communicated with the alleged hitman before the November 23, 2024 online press conference.

“Yes, Your Honor, we believe na hindi naman magsisinungaling ang Bise Presidente no’n kasi galit na galit nga po siya,” Lotoc said.

“Nakita namin may kinausap na siya even before the press conference was held on November 23, 2024," he added.

DENIAL

Aquino also asked defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan whether Duterte or the defense had ever denied that a hitman had been contracted to kill Marcos and his family.

“We deny that, Your Honor… That is not accurate, Your Honor, and we will present evidence or counter-evidence to prove that,” Vinluan answered.

Senator-Judge Juan Miguel Zubiri also asked further whether the Vice President had specifically denied making the controversial statements, apart from the blanket denial contained in the defense's submission to the impeachment court.

“There is, Your Honor, and we just reserve our right to present that evidence at the proper time as well,” Vinluan added.

Earlier in the hearing, the defense team said it would present a witness to testify about the alleged "Operation Romanov" assassination plot against Duterte and her family.

INVESTIGATION REPORT

Lotoc also said that he was unaware of any written report by the NBI Intelligence Service on the alleged threats against Duterte and her family and said that none had been furnished to him during his tenure as head of the NBI Cybercrime Division.

“During the time insofar as the Cybercrime investigation is concerned, wala akong nakita na ganon (I’ve seen no such thing),” he said.

He also said the NBI issued no recommendation on the alleged threats against Duterte because it found no validated or confirmed information to support the claims.

“Since wala ho kaming validated information, wala ho kaming nakitang confirmed doon sa allegation, the threats against her life, wala kaming napagsimulan,” Lotoc said.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

During cross-examination, Vinluan asked Lotoc whether NBI recommendations were binding upon the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Vinluan also asked whether the NBI had clarified during a House hearing on the impeachment case that its recommendations were not binding upon the court and that the determination of guilt or innocence rests solely with the court.

“Wala pong question sa amin. Wala kaming na-clarify,” Lotoc said.

Lotoc also admitted that typographical errors were found in the subpoena and affidavit of investigation related to its probe into Duterte’s alleged threats against Marcos.