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NBI findings: VP Duterte has capacity to carry out death threat vs Marcos

Published Jul 21, 2026 10:00 pm

At A Glance

  • NBI Director Melvin Matibag testifies that Vice President Sara Duterte has the capability, resources, and network to carry out her alleged death threat against President Marcos.
  • Investigators apply a threat assessment methodology, considering her position, influence, and access to firearms, finances, and the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.
  • Matibag says the task force identified persons of interest linked to the alleged assassin, stressing the probe is "serious, active, and continuing."
Vice President Sara Duterte (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)


Vice President Sara Duterte has the capacity to carry out her alleged death threat against the country’s leader, President Marcos.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag shared these findings on Tuesday, July 21 during his testimony as the prosecution’s witness on the allegations of grave threats and inciting to sedition in Duterte's ongoing Senate impeachment trial.
Lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro conducted direct examination on Matibag, who spoke about the respondent's capabilities in connection with her now infamous threat.
Matibag said an NBI special task force evaluated the Vice President's remarks using a threat assessment methodology based on standards employed by the United States (US) Secret Service.
“Hindi po kinakailangan na naisagawa na ang pagbabanta. Ang tinitingnan po natin dito ay kung mayroon siyang kakayahan, resources, tao at makinarya upang maisakatuparan ang pagbabanta,” said the wiitness, a lawyer.
(It is not necessary that the threat has already been carried out. What we are looking at here is whether she has the capability, resources, people, and machinery to execute the threat.)
In coming up with the findings, the investigators considered Duterte’s position as Vice President, her political network, and the influence of the Duterte family in determining whether she possessed the means to carry out the alleged threat.
“Kasama po sa aming tiningnan ang kaniyang posisyon bilang Vice President, ang kaniyang network, ang resources na maaari niyang gamitin at ang mga tao na maaaring makatulong sa pagsasakatuparan ng pagbabanta,” Matibag said.
(Included in what we examined was her position as Vice President, her network, the resources she could use, and the people who could help carry out the threat.)
The NBI chief added that investigators also examined information relating to firearms, financial resources, and the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) as part of the assessment.
Matibag claimed that the VPSPG was on Duterte’s beck and call.
He explained that the task force did not limit its inquiry to whether or not the alleged threat had already been carried out. Instead, the investigators sought to determine whether Duterte had the ability to translate the alleged threat into action.
The assessment of the respondent's capability formed one of five factors examined by the special task force, alongside her alleged pattern of violence, the gravity of the threat, identity, and motive or intent.
Who is the assassin?
In a virtual press conference on Nov. 23, 2024, Duterte said she had already tapped an assassin who would kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez should she herself gets slain.
Earlier in his testimony, Matibag said the task force has also "identified persons of interest" as far as the assassin was concerned as part of what he described as an “open, continuing and active investigation” into Duterte’s alleged threats against the three personalities.
The witness declined to name any of these persons of interest. He also said that he didn't want to compromise any of the agency's informants.

Related Tags

Melvin Matibag NBI death threat Sara Duterte Impeachment PBBM MARCOS
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