Palace says Sara threat was ‘real,’ not hypothetical

Malacañang rejected the claim of Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team that her alleged death threat against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was merely hypothetical, insisting the statement was deliberate, publicly made, and never denied by the Vice President herself.

During a Palace briefing, Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte’s own words contradict the defense raised during the ongoing Senate impeachment trial.

“Hindi po ito hypothetical, nakita po ito, hindi po ito gawa-gawang isip, hindi po ito pantasya (This is not hypothetical. It was heard, it was neither fabricated nor a fantasy),” Castro said.

She noted that Duterte herself admitted making the statement and even described it as “no joke” when she said she had instructed someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez should anything happen to her.

“Sinabi po ito at mismong si Bise Presidente ay hindi pinasinungalingan ang kanyang mga sinabi, ang kanyang pagbabanta sa buhay ng Pangulo (The Vice President said this herself and she has never denied making those threats against the President’s life),” Castro added.

Castro also disputed the argument that the alleged statement could not constitute the crime of grave threats because it was conditional.

Citing Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code and the Supreme Court ruling in Caluag v. People, she said the offense of grave threats may be committed whether or not a condition is attached to the threat.

The Palace official likewise questioned the Duterte camp’s reliance on the alleged “Operation Romanov” to explain the Vice President’s remarks.

During Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings, Duterte’s lawyers argued that she made the statement out of fear for her family’s safety due to an alleged operation targeting them.

Castro said it is the Vice President’s responsibility to prove that such an operation existed, noting that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had previously asked Duterte to provide details about the alleged threats but she did not cooperate.

“Siya po ang magbigay ng mga detalye, para po magkaroon ng tamang pag-iimbestiga (She should provide the details so that a proper investigation can be conducted),” she said.

She stressed that the alleged operation, even if proven, would not justify threatening the life of the President.

“Ang pagbabanta ay pagbabanta, sinuman ka man… nagbanta ka pa rin sa buhay ng Pangulo (A threat is still a threat, whoever you are… you still threatened the President’s life),” Castro said.

Castro also dismissed suggestions that President Marcos influenced the criminal investigation because the NBI is attached to the Department of Justice under the Executive branch.

She maintained that the NBI merely performed its legal mandate to investigate a public statement involving the safety of the President.

“Ang NBI po ay may sariling mandato… mandato po ng NBI na iimbestigahan po ito dahil po ito ay para sa proteksiyon ng ating Pangulo (The NBI has its own mandate… it is its duty to investigate because it concerns the protection of the President),” she said.

The Senate impeachment trial against Duterte formally opened on July 6 after the House of Representatives impeached her in May 2026 over allegations that include culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, misuse of confidential funds, bribery, unexplained wealth, and the grave threats case arising from her November 2024 remarks against President Marcos, the First Lady, and Romualdez.