Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division chief Atty. Jeremy Lotoc testified during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte that she did not personally appear before the agency’s investigation into her alleged threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
During direct examination by private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan, Lotoc said the NBI issued a subpoena after Duterte’s online press conference on Nov. 23, 2024, directing her to appear before investigators on Nov. 25.
According to Lotoc, Duterte did not attend the scheduled investigation and instead sent her lawyer, along with a letter stating that she could not appear because of “office matters.”
Lotoc also testified that the NBI later issued a second invitation to give the vice president additional time to appear.
He said the agency informed Duterte that it was also investigating the alleged threat against her life and that her presence was necessary for the investigation to proceed.
However, Lotoc said Duterte again did not appear and instead authorized her lawyer to inform investigators that she chose to follow her legal counsel because the NBI is under the administrative supervision of the Justice secretary, who serves as the President’s alter ego.
Lotoc further testified that investigators examined the alleged statements by considering their wording, context, literal meaning, nature of the instruction and the relationship of the parties involved.
He said the NBI’s analysis concluded that Duterte appeared “furious and fuming mad” during the Nov. 23 online press conference, noting that she uttered profanity eight times.
Lotoc also said investigators reviewed Duterte’s Oct. 18, 2024 press conference, along with the Nov. 23 briefing, as part of their investigation.
