Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Lawmakers from the House Committee on Justice disputed the claims of Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer that context was “ignored” in the video presented as evidence of Duterte’s alleged threat against the President, the First Lady and the former House Speaker, and “guesswork” was presented as investigation results.</p><p>Committee Chairperson Rep. Gerville Luistro and member Rep. Leila de Lima said the context was clear in the video.</p><p>&quot;The statements of the VP&#x27;s legal counsel that the charges based on the VP&#x27;s livestreamed threat to kill the President are guesswork and out of context cannot be taken seriously. Kung makapagsalita ang kampo ni VP Sara, para bang nandun sila sa mga impeachment proceedings at hindi naduwag ang kliyente nila na magpaliwanag sa mga pinagsasabi niya,” de Lima said.</p><p>“Maliwanag naman ang konteksto ng banta ni VP Sara sa Pangulo, First Lady at sa former Speaker of the House. Authentic ang video ayon sa NBI. Hindi rin itinanggi ni VP Sara. Yung argumento nilang yan, tulad ng iba pa nilang paliwanag sa matitinding rebelasyon sa nakaraang impeachment proceedings, mukhang inilalabas na lang nila kahit napakababaw, para may ipang-content ang mga nagpapakalat ng fake news at disinformation, at para palabnawin o ilihis ang isyu ng pananagutan ni VP Sara. Yung bukambibig nila na &quot;fishing expedition&quot; ay gasgas nang naratibo para pagtakpan ang kaduwagan ni VP Sara na hindi humarap sa impeachment at sagutin ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanya. The impeachment proceeding is the proper forum, hindi yang mga press releases o pa-presscon-presscon nila,” she added.</p><p>“Also, we are disgusted by their gall in invoking respect for the rule of law. Mag-usap-usap muna sila at manalamin bago magturo kung sino ang hindi gumagalang sa ating Konstitusyon; kung sino ang hindi sumipot sa impeachment proceedings, pati na sa mga hearings para depensahan ang budget ng kanyang tanggapan,” de Lima noted.</p><p>“The video speaks for itself. You&#x27;ve witnessed the demeanor of the Vice President while uttering those threats. What else are you looking for?...Sana lang nag-participate sila sa Justice Committee para they were able to present their evidence,” Luistro added.</p><div><strong>FORTHWITH</strong></div><p>For Luistro, the Supreme Court’s clarification on the term “forthwith” when it comes to holding an impeachment trial, is a recognition of the Senate’s exclusive power to conduct the said trial.</p><p>The SC said that the term “forthwith” as mentioned in Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution means “within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each case.”</p><p>“The Supreme Court recognized the exclusive power of the Senate to hold trial of impeachment cases. It only means that the Supreme Court is recognizing the power of the Senate to determine when to convene the impeachment court, when to start the trial, depending on the surrounding circumstances,” Luistro explained.</p><p>She does not see the matter to be a roadblock in the impeachment proceedings should the House of Representatives decide to elevate to the Senate the impeachment complaint against Duterte.</p><p>“In the absence of other challenges which may hamper the trial in the Senate, I think the Senators will be able to convene within the reasonable period of time as pronounced in the decision of the Supreme Court,” Luistro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZUA2UTG2sk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Lawmakers from the House Committee on Justice disputed the claims of Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer that context was “ignored” in the video presented as evidence of Duterte’s alleged threat against the President, the First Lady and the former House Speaker.</p>

Lawmakers from the House Committee on Justice disputed the claims of Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer that context was “ignored” in the video presented as evidence of Duterte’s alleged threat against the President, the First Lady and the former House Speaker.

Findings on Sara Duterte’s threat video not 'guesswork' or 'out of context', De Lima says

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Findings on Sara Duterte’s threat video not 'guesswork' or 'out of context', De Lima says

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 30, 2026 07:00 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

impeachment

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