MANILA, Philippines – The Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumed Monday with the prosecution presenting its second witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified that Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez were “serious” and not protected by freedom of speech.
Lotoc, who previously headed the NBI Cybercrime Division that investigated the case, told the impeachment court that the bureau found sufficient basis to investigate Duterte’s statements, saying she herself admitted having spoken to a supposed assassin before her Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference.
He also testified that the NBI is mandated by law to investigate threats against the country’s high officials.
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Lotoc the impeachment court that Duterte’s alleged threats fall outside the protection of freedom of speech, saying that it protects lawful expression but does not protect utterances that satisfy the elements of criminal offense.FEATURED STORIES
