'We will not shut up': DOJ won't stop probe vs VP Sara Duterte; more individuals face summons

The Department of Justice will not stop its investigation into an alleged threat made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is assassinated.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres confirmed the Office of the Ombudsman can take over an investigation against Duterte but only for offenses under its jurisdiction such as plunder, bribery, graft and other offenses of public officials.

DOJ says 'no problem' if Ombudsman takes over probe on Sara Duterte

Duterte is currently being investigated for grave threats, inciting to sedition and possible violation of the antiterror law, which are “personal acts not under the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman”, he said.

“We will not shut up. We will fight for justice, accountability and the rule of law,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Duterte earlier said her statement against the Marcoses and Romualdez was “taken out of its logical context” and that the "Marcos administration's insistence that the President's life is under active threat is ominous."

She earlier asked the NBI for more time to face the investigation and asked the agency to provide her the questions in advance.

VP Sara Duterte asks NBI to reschedule hearing on threat vs Marcos

In the interview, the justice official said the DOJ will be issuing more subpoenas in the coming days.

“Marami kaming i-i-issue na subpoena. ‘Yung mga tao na ‘yun, maaaring mapaaga ang pagpapatawag,” he said.

He said the investigation will focus not just on Duterte’s remarks against the Marcoses and Romualdez but also her claim that there is a kill plot against her.

“Kung ano ‘yung siansabi niyang threat, sana naka police blotter o pinadaan sa Presidential Security Compound para magkaroon ng follow-up investigation,” he said.