President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trust in the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains intact despite the National Bureau of Investigation raising the possibility that a soldier was the hitman allegedly hired by Vice President Sara Duterte to kill him. Malacañang said the NBI should be allowed to continue its probe. This comes as the House justice committee found probable cause for Duterte’s impeachment on Wednesday.
At a briefing, Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said, “With regard to the members of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the President’s trust in them remains intact.”
During Wednesday’s hearing on impeachment complaints against Duterte, NBI chief Melvin Matibag said it is possible a military man was tapped to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez, as Duterte’s security group members are active armed forces personnel.
The alleged plot to assassinate the First Couple and Romualdez was among the charges in the impeachment complaints against Duterte, a former close ally turned arch critic of the administration.
On the House justice committee’s probable cause finding, Castro said: “That is the job of Congress...They have seen through their hearings that there is evidence so their decision is based on what they saw.” This moves the complaints to the plenary for voting and opens a possible Senate trial.
