Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said the government is taking Duterte's remark as a "serious and active threat," considering that it emanated from the second highest ranking official in the country, who is "influential and powerful." He added the NBI will undertake all processes necessary to identify the supposed hitman hired by the Vice President. The Department of Justice has jurisdiction over the NBI.
"An immediate investigation is necessary and we have a legal recourse for the NBI to issue a subpoena against the Vice President to let her explain her remarks," Andres said.
"We are not leaving any stone unturned, we will take every effort to protect the President and to investigate everyone that could possibly be involved in this assassination plot of the three high-ranking officials of government, Andres told Palace reporters. The First Lady is not a government official.
Asked if Duterte's pronouncement can serve as grounds for her impeachment, Andres replied: "Impeachment is a constitutional option that is vested in the House of Representatives to initiate and eventually elevated into the Senate. It is not within the ambit of our authority to determine whether this should be a ground for impeachment." "But I will only say that there are serious violations of the law in these acts. So we will leave it up to Congress to make that determination," he said.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said out of courtesy and due process, the agency is giving Duterte five days to appear before the NBI and give her explanation and answer questions. The NBI is set to issue the subpoena today.
Santiago said they have no leads yet on the identity of the supposed hitman but this would be cleared up if Duterte follows the subpoena and gives an explanation on her remarks.
Should Duterte snub the summons, the NBI will proceed with whatever evidence it has in its possession and file corresponding cases if warranted.
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