VP Sara Duterte summoned over NBI case

The Office of the Prosecutor summons Vice President Sara Duterte concerning an investigation into a case filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation. — Inquirer photo by Grig C. Montegrande

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said on Tuesday night that the Office of the Prosecutor has summoned her in connection with an investigation into a case filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Duterte made the pronouncement after she stated that she was not surprised that a non-bailable trafficking charge has been formally filed against former presidential spokesperson and known Duterte ally Harry Roque over his alleged involvement in the illegal activities of the scam hub Lucky South 99 Corp. in Porac, Pampanga.

READ: Harry Roque, others charged with trafficking

She said she also received a summons from the Office of the Prosecutor.

“In fact, ako man ay naka-receive din kanina ng summons sa Office of the Prosecutor sa finile ng National Bureau of Investigation na kaso laban sa akin,” Duterte said in a chance interview  in Sogod, Southern Leyte, on Tuesday evening.

(In fact, I also received a summons earlier today from the Office of the Prosecutor regarding the case filed against me by the National Bureau of Investigation.)

When asked to confirm the summons, NBI chief Jaime Santiago said the subpoena was for the preliminary investigation on the case they filed against Duterte regarding the alleged threat she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

INQUIRER.net also sought confirmation on the subpoena from the Office of the Prosecutor, but has yet to receive a response as of posting.

It was in February this year when the NBI filed incitement to sedition and grave threat cases against Duterte.

READ: NBI files criminal cases vs Sara Duterte for threatening Marcos

This is after she revealed in an online press conference that she instructed someone to kill Marcos, along with his wife Liza and cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez, should she herself be killed.