By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Wednesday said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is obligated to investigate the alleged assassination and ouster plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said threats against the President are not new, citing remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
“Hindi na po kailangang mag-utos ng Pangulo para imbestigahan ito. Ang NBI po, kayo po ay nakatalagang mag-imbestiga sa mga ganitong klaseng death threats sa Pangulo at kahit sinumang ordinaryong tao; mayroon po kayong obligasyon na imbestigahan ito,” Castro said.
New allegations surfaced during the Vice President’s impeachment proceedings, led by the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday, where alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga claimed there was a term-sharing agreement between Marcos and Duterte—who ran and won in 2022 under the UniTeam coalition.
According to Madriaga’s sworn testimony, Marcos agreed to step down by 2025 “to give way for a Sara presidency.”
He added that various possible scenarios were in place to unseat Marcos “in case he reneges on his promise,” including assassination, mass resignation of government officials, civil disobedience, and even an armed assault of the Malacañan Palace.
Castro said Marcos was surprised by the said allegations, stressing that the President has no personal knowledge of any such arrangement, as he had sworn to the public that he would serve until the end of his term in 2028.
“Wala po tayong personal na kaalaman, kahit na ang Pangulo ay walang personal na kaalaman patungkol po dito,” she said.
“Ang Pangulo po ay nangampanya sa taumbayan, nangako na maglilingkod sa taumbayan, at nangakong tatapusin ang kaniyang termino para sa bayan.”
Castro also dismissed Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga’s statement calling for the ouster of the President for allegedly stealing money from flood control projects and allowing gasoline prices to increase.
“Hindi siya sinasampahan ng Pangulo ng anumang kaso kahit anong klaseng paninira ang ginagawa niya,” Castro said.
“Sa mga ganitong klaseng tao po, alam natin, may mga taong fake news peddler, obstructionist, destabilizer, sakim sa kapangyarihan. Itong mga taong ito ay hindi na natin po papaharapin sa salamin para tingnan ang kanilang konsensiya dahil wala silang konsensiya,” she added.
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