Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17840011109732026071402074_ANCTOA HEADSTART1 071426_frame_22458 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte graces the celebration of the 18th Araw ng Barangay Bigaan and the 65th Patronal Fiesta of the Mother of Perpetual Help in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. <em>Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, a House prosecutor, on Tuesday maintained they do not need to prove that Vice President Sara Duterte actually hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, arguing that her public statements alone could constitute grounds for impeachment.</p><p>In his interview on ANC&#x27;s Headstart a day after the fourth day of Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial, Chua said the first article of impeachment tackled centers on the Vice President&#x27;s alleged threats against the President, not on whether authorities can identify or locate an alleged hired killer.</p><p>“Maliwanag ang issue dito is threat. ‘Yung pagbabanta, ‘yung laman o ‘yung konteksto ng binitawan na salita ng ating bise presidente,” he said.</p><p>His remarks came after several senator-judges questioned National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) witness Jeremy Lotoc on Monday about whether investigators had found evidence that Duterte actually contracted someone to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/still-no-trace-of-sara-duterte-s-alleged-contracted-hitman-nbi-says-2059">Still no trace of Sara Duterte’s alleged contracted hitman, NBI says</a></div><div><a for="" href="http://MANILA – Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, a House prosecutor on Tuesday maintained they do not need to prove that Vice President Sara Duterte actually hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, arguing that her public statements alone could constitute grounds for impeachment. In his interview on ANC&#x27;s Headstart a day after the fourth day of Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial, Chua said the first article of impeachment centers on the vice president&#x27;s alleged threats against the President, not on whether authorities can identify or locate an alleged hired killer. “Maliwanag ang issue dito is threat. ‘Yung pagbabanta, ‘yung laman o ‘yung konteksto ng binitawan na salita ng ating bise presidente,” he said. His remarks came after several senator-judges questioned National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) witness Jeremy Lotoc on Monday about whether investigators had found evidence that Duterte actually contracted someone to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. Lotoc is part of the prosecution&#x27;s witnesses on the fourth article of impeachment, which accuses the Vice President of arranging an assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., issuing grave threats, and inciting sedition. He stressed that impeachment proceedings are different from criminal prosecutions, where guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt. In fact, isa nga dito sa mga grounds sa Article 4 is culpable violation of the Constitution. Now, tatanungin ninyo, anong naman ang violate niya? Nagsalita lang siya ng gano&#x27;n. Anong naman ang violate niya sa ating saligang bata? Habang maliwanag. “Kasi ang impeachment atsaka ‘yung criminal case, magkaibang tinitignan diyan. Kasi ‘yung isa, patunayan mo talaga nang walang kaduda-duda na siya talaga ang gumawa ng pagbabanta or whatever. Eh dito sa impeachment, may mga iba pang mga mas magandang parameters dito,” he said. “In fact, isa nga dito sa mga grounds sa Article 4 is culpable violation of the Constitution. Now, tatanungin ninyo, anong naman ang violate niya? Nagsalita lang siya ng gano&#x27;n. Anong naman ang violate niya sa ating saligang batas?” he added. ‘FITNESS TO HOLD OFFICE’ The first article of impeachment stems from Duterte&#x27;s controversial online press conference in November 2024, during which she said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, the First Lady and Romualdez should an alleged plot against her succeed. Duterte later said she was merely expressing concern over threats to her life, while her legal team has argued her statements should be viewed in their full context. During Monday&#x27;s trial, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri asked Duterte&#x27;s lawyers whether she had ever publicly denied making the statements or clarified that they were made in jest. The defense responded that it intends to present evidence on the matter during its own presentation. Asked whether a later explanation or denial would affect the impeachment case, Chua said the prosecution believes the statements speak for themselves. “The thing (video) speaks for itself. Ang nagiging issue na ngayon siguro is ‘yung authentication but hindi naman nila din na ‘yung authentication. In fact, ginamit pa nila ‘yung very video na ebidensya na pinresenta namin, ginamit din nila,” he said. Chua said impeachment differs from a criminal trial because its primary purpose is to determine whether a public official remains fit to continue serving in office. He cited constitutional law scholar Isagani Cruz, who described impeachment as " method="">NBI exec says Duterte&#x27;s alleged grave threats &#x27;serious and real&#x27;</a></div><p>Lotoc is part of the prosecution&#x27;s witnesses on the fourth article of impeachment, which accuses the Vice President of arranging an assassination plot against Marcos, issuing grave threats, and inciting sedition.</p><p>He stressed that impeachment proceedings are different from criminal prosecutions, where guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘FITNESS TO HOLD OFFICE’</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17840026172962026071402074_ANCTOA HEADSTART1 071426_frame_22458.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The first article of impeachment tackled centers on the Vice President&#x27;s alleged threats against the President, not on whether authorities can identify or locate an alleged hired killer. <em>ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>Duterte had said she was merely expressing concern over threats to her life, while her legal team argued her statements should be viewed in their full context.</p><p>During Monday&#x27;s trial, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri asked Duterte&#x27;s lawyers whether she had ever publicly denied making the statements or clarified that they were made in jest.</p><p>The defense responded that it intends to present evidence on the matter during its own presentation.</p><p>Asked whether a later explanation or denial would affect the impeachment case, Chua said the prosecution believes the statements speak for themselves.</p><p>“The thing (video) speaks for itself... In fact, ginamit pa nila ‘yung very video na ebidensya na pinresenta namin, ginamit din nila,” he said.</p><p>Chua said impeachment differs from a criminal trial because its primary purpose is to determine whether a public official remains fit to continue serving in office.</p><p>He cited constitutional law scholar Isagani Cruz, who described impeachment as &quot;a method of national inquest into the conduct of public officials.&quot;</p><p>“Like for example, may nangyaring insidente sa kanyang staff. Ibig sabihin ba noon gigyerahin niya ‘yung ibang bansa o kung sino man dahil sa galit niya?” he said.</p><p>“And that&#x27;s what the impeachment trial is about. Accountability and fitness to hold office,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Chua also argued Duterte&#x27;s remarks could amount to a culpable violation of the Constitution because the President and Vice President take a constitutional oath to faithfully execute the laws.</p><p>He said publicly threatening the country&#x27;s head of state undermines public trust and raises concerns about national security.</p><p>“We have to remember that is a national security concern. Hindi ito pwede baliwalain... Automatic ‘yan, dapat iniimbestigahan ‘yan kahit na simpleng pagbabanta lamang,” Chua said.</p><p>Chua also pointed to the Vice President&#x27;s constitutional role as the official next in the line of succession, saying holders of the country&#x27;s two highest elected offices are expected to observe the highest standards of conduct.</p><p>The impeachment court is expected to hear testimony Tuesday from Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, one of Duterte&#x27;s closest aides.</p><p>Chua declined to disclose the prosecution&#x27;s strategy or what Lopez&#x27;s testimony would focus on, saying it could compromise their case.</p><p>The prosecution has previously indicated it plans to present additional witnesses before moving to other articles of impeachment, including allegations involving the Office of the Vice President&#x27;s confidential funds.</p><p>The Senate impeachment court resumed trial proceedings this week after hearing testimony from NBI officials, with the prosecution expected to complete its presentation of evidence before the defense begins presenting its own witnesses.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/defense-poised-to-pound-sloppy-nbi-probe-at-impeachment-trial-day-5-0921">Defense poised to pound &#x27;sloppy&#x27; NBI probe at impeachment trial day 5</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></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/YaIJ4Vfb_2Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/62kXw6ncxgo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/tN2P8JlYxeo?&amp;t=8s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A House prosecutor on Tuesday maintained they do not need to prove that Vice President Sara Duterte actually hired an assassin, arguing that her public statements alone could constitute grounds for impeachment.</p>

A House prosecutor on Tuesday maintained they do not need to prove that Vice President Sara Duterte actually hired an assassin, arguing that her public statements alone could constitute grounds for impeachment.

Duterte 'death threat' alone can justify impeachment, alleged hitman need not be proven–Chua

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Duterte 'death threat' alone can justify impeachment, alleged hitman need not be proven–Chua

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 14, 2026 12:18 PM PHT

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Updated July 14, 2026 01:05 PM PHT

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impeachment

sara duterte

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