The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was asked to expand its ongoing probe to include alleged loyalists of the Duterte family and examine possible links to a broader destabilization effort against the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This was raised during a recent hearing of the House Committee on Justice, where lawmakers reviewed evidence tied to impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, said the issue goes beyond an alleged “kill threat” and may point to a coordinated attempt to undermine the government, citing testimony and public statements presented before the panel.
Central to the NBI’s presentation was a November 23, 2024, press conference in which Duterte allegedly stated that she had instructed someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her own assassination. The NBI told lawmakers the video of the statement was authentic and not manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence.
Abante argued that the remark should not be viewed in isolation, pointing to other statements made by Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte that referenced historical figures associated with violent regime change, including Benito Mussolini and the Romanov execution.
According to the lawmaker, these references, taken together with the vice president’s earlier “designated survivor” comment during her absence from the 2024 State of the Nation Address, suggest a narrative anticipating the possible violent removal of a sitting president.
He also cited Duterte’s participation in gatherings supporting detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, where statements were made questioning the legitimacy of the current administration.
Abante further anchored his concerns on the sworn affidavit of Ramil Madriaga, an alleged associate of former president Rodrigo Duterte, which was presented to the committee. The affidavit claimed there had been discussions about a possible power transition arrangement that could allow Vice President Duterte to assume the presidency before the end of the current term.
He said the testimony also referenced potential “extraordinary measures” if such a transition did not occur, including actions that could destabilize the government.
During the same hearing, NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag confirmed that intelligence reports about alleged Duterte loyalists—some with links to police and military personnel—had surfaced during previous congressional inquiries.
Abante urged investigators to pursue this line of inquiry, noting that earlier discussions suggested the number of such loyalists could reach into the thousands, significantly higher than the vice president’s official security detail.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, who chairs the Justice panel, acknowledged during the hearing that the discussion had shifted toward concerns about possible destabilization.
The proceedings marked the final stage of the committee’s deliberations on whether probable cause exists to impeach Duterte. The complaints include allegations of issuing threats, misuse of confidential funds, and unexplained wealth.
With the NBI affirming the authenticity of key evidence, Abante’s appeal signals a potential expansion of the investigation, from individual liability to a broader examination of alleged efforts to disrupt constitutional order.