IGINIIT ni House Deputy Majority Leader at Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, isa sa mga impeachment prosecutor, ang bigat ng pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte na mayroon itong kinausap upang patayin si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Unang Ginang Liza Araneta-Marcos at Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

Sinabi ni Defensor na ito ay isang mabigat na krimen na naglalagay sa panganib sa pambansang seguridad.

“Hiring or even suggesting the hiring of an assassin is not just reckless rhetoric; it is a high crime that threatens the very foundations of our Republic,” ani Defensor, na isang abogado.

“It is an attack not just on the individuals named but on the institutions they represent, especially the Office of the President, which is at the core of our government and national security framework,” punto nito.

Ipinunto pa ni Defensor na ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas ay ang Commander-in-Chief ng Sandatahang Lakas, ang pinakamataas na awtoridad sa militar ng bansa, kaya’t ang kanyang kaligtasan at seguridad ay usaping may pambansang interes.

“A crime against the President is not merely a personal offense; it is a crime against the Filipino people and a direct assault on national security,” giit pa nito.

“Any attempt, suggestion, or conspiracy to harm the Commander-in-Chief creates instability, weakens public trust, and emboldens elements that wish to destabilize our government,” dagdag pa ng kongresista.

Ipinaliwanag din ni Defensor na ang Bise Presidente, bilang isang mataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, ay may pananagutan ding tuparin ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin na ipagtanggol at panatilihin ang Konstitusyon.

Sa isang online press conference, sinabi ni Duterte na mayroon siyang kinausap at sinabihan ito na, “Pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta [Marcos] at si Martin Romualdez.”

“It does not even matter that the statement was conditional. The mere utterance of such threats in public, followed by the assurance that it was not a joke, already constitutes a crime. This reckless declaration reveals a blatant disregard for the rule of law, demonstrating that the Vice President herself does not trust the very foundations of our legal system. By normalizing violence as a response to political conflict, she sets a dangerous precedent and a terrible example for the nation—especially as one of the highest officials in the land, sworn to uphold the Constitution and the democratic principles it enshrines,” paliwanag pa ni Defensor.

Babala ni Defensor, ang umano’y mga pahayag ay may kaakibat na mga paglabag, kabilang na ang pakikipagsabwatan sa pagpaslang, pag-uudyok sa rebelyon at matinding pagbabanta, na pawang may kaukulang parusa sa ilalim ng Revised Penal Code.

“This is not just about impeachment; this is a matter of law enforcement,” aniya. “Threatening or conspiring to harm the President is a serious crime that demands immediate investigation and accountability.”

Kaya’t walang ibang pagpipilian aniya ang Mababang Kapulungan kundi i-impeach si Duterte dahil sa bigat ng kanyang mga ginawa, na isang “pagtataksil sa tiwala ng publiko at matinding paglabag sa kanyang tungkulin bilang Pangalawang Pangulo.”

Hinimok din ni Defensor ang Senado, law enforcement agencies at ang national security sector na bigyang-tuon at agad na aksyunan ang isyung ito.

“If this is allowed to pass without consequences, it will send a dangerous message that even the highest officials of the land can threaten national leaders and institutions without accountability,” babala pa ng mambabatas. “That is a risk we cannot afford to take.”

Nanawagan din siya sa publiko, sa sandatahang lakas at sa lahat ng demokratikong institusyon na manindigan sa pagpapatupad ng batas at pangangalaga sa integridad ng pamahalaan.

“The Filipino people deserve leaders who safeguard democracy, not those who threaten it with violence and lawlessness,” saad pa ni Defensor. “We will ensure that this case is prosecuted with the full force of the law and that justice prevails.”

Matapos aprubahan ng Mababang Kapulungan ang impeachment ni Duterte, isusulong na ang kaso sa Senate Impeachment Court, kung saan ang mga taga-usig ng Kamara, sa pangunguna nina Defensor at kanyang mga kasamahan, ay magpepresenta ng mga matibay na ebidensya upang patunayan na ang kanyang mga ginawa ay sapat na dahilan para siya ay alisin sa pwesto.

“This is not just about political survival; this is about upholding the Constitution and defending our democracy from those who would subvert it through threats and violence,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.