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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hired killers don't need contracts: Bucoy takes down VP Duterte claim that PBBM assassination allegation isn't legit

Hired killers don't need contracts: Bucoy takes down VP Duterte claim that PBBM assassination allegation isn't legit

Published Jun 28, 2025 03:51 pm

At A Glance

  • House prosecution panel spokesman, lawyer Antonio Bucoy can't help but call out the absurdity of Vice President Sara Duterte's claim that the absence of a written contract undermines one of her impeachment allegations, particularly the order to assassinate President Marcos and other top official.
House prosecution panel spokesman Antonio Bucoy (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)
House prosecution panel spokesman Antonio Bucoy (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)


House prosecution panel spokesman, lawyer Antonio Bucoy can't help but call out the absurdity of Vice President Sara Duterte's claim that the absence of a written contract undermines one of her impeachment allegations, particularly the order to assassinate President Marcos and other top official.
“Alam niyo ho ‘yung pagkontrata ng mamamatay-tao, hindi ho naman sinusulat ‘yan eh. Hindi ho ba? Hindi naman sinusulat ‘yan, 'I agree to kill, etc.' Walang ganun eh, kasi illegal eh,” Bucoy sarcastically said during a press conference Friday, June 28.
(You know, contracting an assassin doesn't need any paperwork. Am I right? You don't write a contract for that, 'I agree to kill, etc. There's no such thing, because it's illegal.)
“So anong kontrata ang pinag-uusapan natin? Kontrata na nasa kasulatan, naka-notary? Come on,” Bucoy added.
(So what contract are we talking about? A written contract that's notarized? Come on.)
Article 1 of the seven articles of impeachment lodged against Duterte reads, Conspiracy to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In Duterte's answer ad cautelam to the impeachment complaint, the Vice President said that there was no written contract to support the claim that she plotted to kill the three officials.
Months ago, Duterte grabbed headlines when she said, in recorded interview, that hired an assassin to kill President Marcos and the others. She even underscored that it was no joke.
Duterte later insisted the remarks were made in jest, but repeated them in another media appearance.
“Siya na rin ang nagsabi, 'Komontrata ako ng assassin, ng mamamatay-tao.' Hindi naman sa amin nanggaling yan, sa kanya. At inulit pa niya, hindi ho ba? Another interview, inulit niya,” Bucoy underscored.
(She herself said it, 'I hired an assassin, a killer.' That didn’t come from us, it came from her. And she even repeated it, didn’t she? In another interview, she said it again.)
He questioned the logic behind requiring proof of a written agreement for an obviously illicit act. He said that such statements from Duterte herself constitute an admission against interest.
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