Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte was scheduled to appear at the National Bureau of Investigation on Nov 29. - AFP
MANILA: Philippine authorities delayed a meeting with Vice President Sara Duterte to explain her apparent threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she is killed.
Duterte was scheduled to appear at the National Bureau of Investigation today, but NBI Director Jaime Santiago said a hearing is now tentatively set for Dec 11. The delay was at her request.
"We are investigating the video clips” threatening the president and first lady, Santiago said, noting the vice president is not immune from legal action. He added that authorities are also taking seriously Duterte’s claim that she is facing threats.
Duterte was summoned by the investigation bureau following her apparent threat to kill Marcos, his wife Liza and his cousin, the House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.
A separate decision by the House of Representatives to cancel Friday’s committee hearing on the budget for Duterte’s office came in late "so she’s not ready for the NBI investigation,” Santiago said, citing a letter from Duterte’s lawyer.
The police this week also filed a complaint against her and her security detail over allegations of assault and coercion following an incident involving the transfer of her chief of staff to a government hospital from the House of Representatives, where the staffer was detained.
GMA News earlier reported Duterte would not appear today, citing her lawyer, but noted her representatives had gone to the investigation bureau. - Bloomberg
