Joselito Malig

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Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178393393473820220620-sara-duterte-flag-raising-GC-14.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Vice president-elect Sara Duterte addresses the crowd during the flag-raising ceremony in front of the Davao City Hall, her last one as city mayor on June 20, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News"/>Vice president-elect Sara Duterte addresses the crowd during the flag-raising ceremony in front of the Davao City Hall, her last one as city mayor on June 20, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATE) — A lawyer for Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s defense team denied on Monday that his client had actually contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his relatives — one of the central issues in her impeachment trial.Lawyer Mark Vinluan issued the denial when questioned by Senator-Judge Bam Aquino during the trial at the Senate.&quot;Sa lahat ng mga sagot ninyo, Atty. Vinluan, parang hindi ko nakita na tinanggi ng inyong kliyente o ng depensa na may nakausap ang Bise President na tao para gawin iyong mga bagay na ito? Tama ba, wala ito sa mga sagot ninyo?&quot; Aquino asked Vinluan, referring to Duterte&#x27;s statements about hiring an assassin.&quot;We deny that, Your Honor. That is not accurate, Your Honor, and we will present evidence or counter-evidence,&quot; Vinluan answered.Vinluan said the defense earlier made the denial &quot;in our answer that which we filed before the Senate impeachment court.&quot;Aquino said he would check the official records &quot;because I don&#x27;t remember seeing that in any of your answers.&quot;&quot;Your Honor, all allegations were denied,&quot; Vinluan said.&quot;It&#x27;s a general denial. A blanket denial,&quot; Aquino remarked, to which Vinluan responded: &quot;That was the general denial and there were also specific denials.&quot;Later in the hearing, Vinluan read portions of the defense&#x27;s Answer and maintained the camp&#x27;s denial.Senator-Judge Juan Miguel Zubiri asked whether Duterte had ever publicly denied, through television or radio appearances, that she had actually contracted an assassin.Zubiri said such a recording &quot;would weigh in heavily in our decision.&quot;&quot;There is, Your Honor. We just reserved our right to present that evidence at a proper time,&quot; Vinluan said.The Senate is currently tackling Article IV of the four Articles of Impeachments raised against Duterte, which involves her allegedly making threats against Marcos and his family.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/nbi-exec-jeremy-lotoc-testifies-before-senate-impeachment-court-1514">READ: NBI exec says Duterte&#x27;s alleged grave threats &#x27;serious and real&#x27; </a></div>During a press conference in November 2024, Duterte claimed she had hired an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she were killed first.Duterte is also accused of misusing confidential funds, amassing unexplained wealth, and bribing government officials — allegations she and her lawyers have denied.

A lawyer for Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team denied on Monday that his client actually contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his relatives — one of the central issues in her impeachment trial.

A lawyer for Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team denied on Monday that his client actually contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his relatives — one of the central issues in her impeachment trial.

Lawyer denies Sara Duterte hired killer vs Marcos

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Lawyer denies Sara Duterte hired killer vs Marcos

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 05:13 PM PHT

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Updated July 13, 2026 06:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Bam Aquino

Mark Vinluan

grave threat

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