House Committee on Human Rights Chair Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said the alleged 2024 assassination plot involving Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may constitute an impeachable offense, describing it as a “high crime” under the Constitution.
In a radio interview, Abante said the allegation is part of the fourth impeachment complaint against the Vice President and should be treated with utmost seriousness.
“Impeachable offense ‘yan when it comes to tinatawag nating high crimes. This is included in the fourth impeachment complaint, which to us, hindi ordinaryong bagay na pwedeng sabihin ng isang pangalawang pangulo,” Abante said.
Abante, a co-endorser of the complaint filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera, said the House Committee on Justice has already found the complaints sufficient in form and substance and is now determining probable cause.
“Para sa amin, ito ay impeachable offense dahil malinaw na paglabag ito sa mandato ng Vice President. So to us, parang probable cause na ‘yan sa totoo lang,” he said.
The third and fourth impeachment complaints cite Duterte’s alleged 2024 statements claiming she had spoken to a contract killer to target the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Authorities have previously flagged the remarks as a serious security concern.
The House panel is expected to take up the issue in its April 29 hearing, where officials from the National Bureau of Investigation are scheduled to appear.
Abante stressed that the gravity of the allegation is heightened by Duterte’s position in government.
“Mabigat ‘yan kasi hindi naman ordinaryong tao ang nagbigay ng threat. You’ve got to remember that she is the number two most powerful person in the country,” he said.
He added that the alleged reference to a contract killer makes the matter more serious.
“At hindi lang ito simpleng salita. Sinabi pa niya na meron na siyang kinausap na assassin. That is another serious matter,” Abante said.
The lawmaker also rejected suggestions that the statement could be dismissed as an emotional remark.
“Kahit na emosyonal iyon, the fact that she made it public, malinaw na may pananagutan siya. Leaders of the country must control their emotions. Hindi puwedeng sabihin ang kahit ano sa publiko,” he said.
The House Committee on Justice will continue its determination of probable cause in the coming hearings, after which the complaints may be elevated to the plenary and, if sufficient grounds are found, transmitted to the Senate for trial.