If lawyers say there's no hitman, was Duterte lying?
During an impeachment trial, Senator Bam Aquino questioned defense lawyers regarding Vice President Sara Duterte's previous statements about hiring a hitman. The defense team denied that she spoke to a hitman, leading to confusion over whether the Vice President had lied in earlier public briefings.
Why it matters
This trial involves high-level political figures in the Philippines, highlighting ongoing tensions and legal scrutiny within the government.
MANILA, Philippines - If Vice President Sara Duterte's lawyers deny that she contracted an assassin to kill ranking government officials, does this mean that her statements during a November 2024 online press briefing were mere lies?
This was the question posed by Senator-judge Bam Aquino during the resumption of the impeachment trial on Monday, after asking defense lawyer Mark Vinluan if their stand is that Duterte now denies contracting a hitman to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez if she herself gets killed.
When Vinluan answered in the affirmative, Aquino asked whether Duterte's statements in the November 23, 2024 briefing were all lies.
READ: NBI witness: Sara Duterte threats vs Marcos 'serious, real, and actual'
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