An official from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) defended the bureau’s investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, asserting that clerical blunders in official paperwork did not compromise the evidence or the conclusions regarding her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The dispute arose during the fifth day of Duterte’s Senate impeachment trial, as defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan cross-examined NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc over inconsistencies found within the bureau’s investigation affidavit.
Vinluan highlighted a section of the document that stated “three (1) counts of Grave Threats,” questioning the exact number of counts the NBI intended to recommend against the Vice President.
“It says one count of inciting to sedition and ano ba ito? Three (1). So three na one count of grave threats?” Vinluan asked.
Lotoc conceded that the discrepancy was an oversight, characterizing it as a simple clerical mistake.
“Typographical (error) yan,” Lotoc replied.
The defense contended that these recurring mistakes undermine the integrity of the NBI’s investigation and call into question whether Duterte’s right to due process was properly respected.
Earlier in the trial, Duterte’s defense team also highlighted inaccurate dates and other discrepancies in the documents submitted by the NBI to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Notably, a subpoena and an affidavit were erroneously dated November 6, 2024—more than two weeks before the Vice President actually made the controversial statements during an online broadcast.
Despite the documentation slip-ups, Lotoc insisted that the errors were strictly administrative and did not invalidate the core evidence or the agency’s ultimate conclusions.
“The existence of these typographical errors does not alter the fact that the video exists, does not alter the fact that the Vice President uttered those statements, does not alter the fact na ang NBI merong findings at ang findings nila, the Vice President committed the crime of grave threats and inciting sedition,” he stressed.
The NBI has pushed for the DOJ to file criminal charges against Duterte for grave threats and inciting to sedition, asserting that they have established prima facie evidence with a reasonable certainty of securing a conviction.
The legal action stems from Duterte’s November 23, 2024 online press conference, where she stated she had ordered an individual to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed first.