00:00Yes, Madam Chair. I would like to speak from a personal experience. My husband, the late Governor DeGamo, before he
00:13was murdered, by the way, we will be remembering his third death anniversary tomorrow, that's March 4, he received threats
00:25before he was tragically murdered.
00:31The threats at first were conditional. Like, if you do this, something will happen. But then even though they were
00:43conditional, the fear and intimidation they cause were very real.
00:51Conditional threats can turn into actual harm. Nangyari po yun sa amin.
01:02In the same way, when the VP reportedly made statements implying harm to the President, the First Lady, and the
01:12former Speaker, those statements are serious, even if phrased as conditional.
01:21Kasi words from someone in her position carry weight. It can intimidate other officials, it can influence decision, and even
01:37undermine public trust.
01:39That is why, in impeachment terms, such conditional threats are considered sufficient in substance.
01:49It's not just the wording that matters. It's the effect and potential for harm, especially when the Speaker holds high
02:02office.
02:04Just as in my family's experience, conditional threats really must be taken seriously.
02:19The legal connection there talks about a threat does not have to be absolute or immediate to be serious.
02:30What matters is what matters is its potential impact, especially if the Speaker holds power.
02:45Conditional threats can intimidate or coerce.
02:49Conditional threats can intimidate or coerce, even a statement that starts with if can pressure officials or institutions to act
02:57a certain way.
02:59And high office makes it more serious.
03:04Maybe words from ordinary people may be limited in effect.
03:10But threats from a person who is holding a national leadership post
03:16carry far-reaching consequences.
03:21Kaya nga po, public office demands higher standards of behavior.
03:27Yun yung nirequire sa atin.
03:30Dahil if wrongly handled, and I must admit, my husband must have wrongly handled the situation back then
03:37that resulted now to his third year anniversary still waiting for justice to be served.
03:46Yan lang po, Madam Chair. Thank you.
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