Manila: The House prosecution panel on Wednesday announced that there is no evidence supporting claims of a plot to kill Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, challenging the alleged 'Operation Romanov' that the defense has used to justify Duterte's controversial statements against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
According to Philippines News Agency, during a press briefing at the Senate, lawyer Benjamin 'Jay' Tolosa Jr., legal spokesperson and counsel for the House prosecutors, declared that no evidence has been presented to substantiate the alleged plot. He referenced the testimony of a prosecution witness and findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as proof of the absence of any credible threat.
Tolosa reiterated the point, stating, 'This has been discussed repeatedly in past hearings, and until now, it is clear there is no evidence that supports the alleged attempt or threats against the life of the Vice President.' This was in response to Duterte's defense team, who argued that her remarks on November 23, 2024, should be understood within the context of the alleged 'Oplan Romanov,' a supposed plot against her and her family.
The impeachment case against Duterte involves accusations of grave threats and betrayal of public trust, stemming from her statement about hiring someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.
Prosecution witness, NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, provided testimony to the Senate impeachment court, indicating that 'Oplan Romanov' was mentioned by Davao City Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte as a warning directed at the Marcos family. Lotoc explained that the reference to the Romanov family execution suggested the threat was aimed at the First Family, not Vice President Duterte.
Tolosa highlighted that despite the NBI's attempts to investigate the allegations by inviting Duterte to share information, she did not participate in the investigation.
House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong labeled the alleged 'Oplan Romanov' as a 'manufactured scenario,' pointing to the absence of any intelligence or information that could assist the NBI in investigating the alleged plot against Duterte.
Adiong emphasized that the NBI remains open to receiving any information that could validate the claim and that both Duterte and Princess Maui, a pro-Duterte vlogger who raised the alleged plot during an online press conference, were invited to cooperate with the investigation but did not.
'If we're talking about a life and death situation, especially if there's an attempt to wipe out your family, wouldn't it be the topmost priority to assist the investigative agency?' Adiong questioned, expressing skepticism over the alleged threat given the lack of participation from those involved.
Adiong concluded that the lack of cooperation was hard to reconcile with any claims of a genuine threat to Duterte and her family.
