The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, Jan. 14, assured it will push through with its probe on Vice President Sara Duterte despite the "show of support" made by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on President Marcos' stance against her impeachment.

Justice Secretary Crispin C. Remulla pointed this out to reporters after the INC held on Monday, Jan. 13, a National Rally for Peace, which many believed, was a show of support against Duterte's impeachment. 

Several impeachment complaints have been filed against Duterte before the House of Representatives.

The NBI is probing into the press conference held by Vice President Duterte in November last year where she claimed to have ordered someone, in the event she dies, to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

When asked by journalists if the INC’s "show of support" might influence the investigation, Remulla said: “I don't think so kasi (because) we just have to look at the law as something that equalizes everything between all of us.”

“That's why we cannot give special favors to people because of standing,” he said.

He said he was not opposed to the INC’s decision in holding Monday’s national rally.

“I'm not concerned about that because it's their freedom. They have the freedom to express themselves and we respect that freedom. We guard that freedom zealously,” he stressed. 

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already finished its investigation concerning the "threat" reportedly aired by the Vice President.

Fadullon said “we are sending prosecutors over to look at the evidence and evaluate the evidence that is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.”

“Depending on the outcome, we will be able make a recommendation whether to have it considered filed already before the department and/or to return it to the NBI if there is a need to build-up the case further and to add to the evidence they already have,” he said.