00:00Six seconds. You may proceed, sir.
00:02Thereafter, we will call for a 15-minute break.
00:08In the discourse yesterday, talking about VP Sayers' statements during the November 23, 2024 press con,
00:16Senator Judge Risa Ontivero stated, and I quote,
00:20None of these statements are proof that the vice president actually contracted an assassin or hired one.
00:27She is absolutely right.
00:30She then asked the question, why are these acts impeachable?
00:35To this question, the prosecution responded,
00:39We understand that these statements may not actually 100% prove that she, in fact, contracted an assassin.
00:49Hence, the prosecution admitted that the video does not prove any fact other than its existence.
00:56In simple words, there is no proof of any contracting of an assassin.
01:02The prosecution's admission before this honorable court made the respondent's position clear.
01:09The prosecution has no other competent evidence to prove that VP Sarah contracted an assassin.
01:16Ang testimony ni Calilong, gaya ng iba pang ebidensya kuno ng prosecution,
01:23ay hindi sapat para patunayan ang paratang na ito.
01:26Trying to prove this stretch narrative using a hodgepodge of materials
01:30is a waste of this honorable court's time and the Filipino people's money.
01:36Si VP Sarah na mismo ang nagsabi na hindi asasin ang kinausap niya.
01:42This term only came from people who took her statements out of their proper context
01:47and tried to exaggerate them for what they really meant.
01:51The truth of the matter is this.
01:54She and her family were threatened.
01:57And while her response was unconventional, it was justified.
02:02What triggered her response was a question about Operation Romanov,
02:07which is the plot to eliminate VP Sarah and her entire family.
02:13The NBI's own records prove this.
02:16In the minutes of the meeting of Dempsey Reyes' interview, he said, and I quote,
02:21May press con kasi earlier than that, sabi niya, parang hindi lang niya gusto daw,
02:26sabi lang niya, gusto daw siyang patayin daw, according to her, ni speaker.
02:30That was during a press conference the day before, November 2022.
02:35End of quote.
02:37During the virtual press con, Princess Bawi mentioned Operation Romanov again
02:42and even warned her about her safety.
02:45Reyes talked about it, Princess Maui reiterated it,
02:50but the NBI gaslighted it.
02:53When VP Sarah uttered those words,
02:56she was not responding as Sarah Duterte the vice president,
03:00but Sarah Duterte the wife, mother, daughter, and sister
03:05who only sought to protect her own and her family members' lives.
03:10Operation Romanov is in place,
03:12and the threat against their lives is real.
03:16VP Sarah became the target of unauthorized intelligence and surveillance operations
03:21by government operatives that expose her family to high-level risks and security threats,
03:27thereby causing intense trauma and uncontrollable fear.
03:32Her homes in Davao and Manila were profiled,
03:35and this is proven by classified gazing reports.
03:37Her trusted security personnel were removed.
03:40Her schedule of official functions, like the one in Naga,
03:43was leaked by intelligence agents,
03:45and her security was heavily compromised.
03:48In sum, the prosecution was right in using the term culmination.
03:54But the prosecution's interpretation is wrong.
03:58Rather, when VP Sarah left the administration,
04:02she suffered various forms of threats and harassment
04:05for many months from the powers that be,
04:09and the culmination was her statement
04:11on that fateful early morning in November 2024.
04:17She didn't commit an impeachable offense.
04:21She drew the line in the sand and said,
04:24enough is enough.
04:26That is the meaning, and that is the context.
04:29Finally, as to the alleged grave threats and inciting to sedition,
04:33these are defined by their vice-penal code
04:36and are punishable by prisión correccional.
04:38Thus, these fall under the jurisdiction of the MTC or first-level courts.
04:42These charges are not other high crimes
04:45as contemplated by the Constitution as grounds for impeachment
04:48and are therefore not impeachable.
04:51After all, VP Sarah was fighting two important battles that day,
04:56one against the threat to her family's life
04:58and another against the life of the ordinary Filipino,
05:02constantly suffocated by the immense weight of corruption,
05:06which she talked about during the press con.
05:09She never incited sedition.
05:11She merely echoed the voice of ordinary Filipinos.
05:14Her message that day only reflected
05:17what was already in their hearts and minds.
05:19There was no betrayal of public trust.
05:21She actually upheld the people's trust
05:24as she spoke for and behalf of the people.
05:28Thank you, Your Honor.
05:29Thank you, Attorney Bidluan.
05:30Share the clear so fifth yeah.
05:33Share the clear so fifth yeah.
