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Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, July 8, managed to question the defense panel if indeed Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was prompted by the detention of her Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez. (Video courtesy of Senate of the Philippines)

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/08/hontiveros-asks-defense-if-lopezs-detention-prompted-vp-saras-alleged-threats-counsel-says-yes

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Transcript
00:00Your Honor, that is not the point.
00:02No, no, no. Mr. Presidenting Officer, I am making a point through my question and I am asking the good
00:09counsel for the defense
00:10dahil sinabi nila there was a systematic oppression that yes, yan po ang nagprompt nung alleged grave threats and alleged
00:21incitements ng Vice President.
00:25Para sa Council for the Defense, Mr. Presidenting Officer, just for clarity, ano pong relevance nung video na ipinakita ni
00:37Attorney Zuleyka Lopez?
00:40Sinasabi po ba ng depensa na yung mga alleged threats o alleged incitements ni VP Duterte ay prompted nung detention
00:54ni Attorney Lopez?
00:56Yes, Your Honor. There was a systematic oppression made by the House of Representatives dating back from their, even before
01:08their mini trial, Your Honor,
01:09the committee headed by Representative Joel Chua began investigating the Vice President and her people,
01:16even when Ms. Zuleyka, Attorney Zuleyka Lopez was being interviewed by the House Committee of,
01:26Quadcom Committee, Your Honor, she, even if she was answering the questions faithfully and the best, to the best of
01:36her ability,
01:36she was cited in contempt detained. Her lawyer was not allowed to be with her when they were trying to
01:50detain her in the women's correctional facility, Your Honor.
01:55So, Mr. Presidenting Officer, Council for the Defense,
02:00position po ba ng depensa na pwedeng palampasin ang alleged grave threats kung may masasabing lehitimong dahilan para magbanta?
02:17Your Honor, that is not the point.
02:19No, no, no, no. Mr. Presidenting Officer, I am making a point through my question and I am asking the
02:26good counsel for the defense
02:28dahil sinabi nila there was a systematic oppression that yes, yan po ang nag-prompt nung alleged grave threats
02:38and alleged incitements ng Vice President na prompt po ng detention ni Attorney Lopez na kanyang inilarawan sa ipinakitang video
02:47kanina.
02:48Kaya itinatanong ko kung yan ba ang posisyon ng depensa na pwedeng okay lang or pwedeng tanggapin ang grave threats
03:01kung may masasabing lehitimong dahilan para magbanta?
03:06Yes, Your Honor.
03:07Before Council for Respondent Answers, although he already answered in the affirmative.
03:12No, Your Honor, I was just referring to it before.
03:15I would like to remind the Senator Judges to be cautious in making counsels for either party make conclusions of
03:25law and fact
03:25instead of presenting evidence through a witness they will present or through direct, cross, redirect or recross.
03:35Because if he answers, Senator Judges and the veterans, that would effectively place on record a conclusion of fact and
03:42law,
03:42not drawn from a witness, which they can very well do so during their closing remarks.
03:48And when I allow him to speak by way of repartie to the peroration yesterday and discussion yesterday by Council
03:55for the Prosecution.
03:56But other than that, as agreed with some of the Senator Judges, we would try to limit the answers of
04:03the councils for the parties.
04:04With your indulgence, Senator Judge Antivaris, please.
04:07I submit, Mr. Presiding Officer, may I just in closing make of record that I also appreciated and also submitted
04:17to the ruling of the presiding officer yesterday because I appreciated that it partook of the history of impeachment proceedings
04:31in this court.
04:50So, I again thank the good presiding officer and again reiterate my submission to his ruling.
04:57And thank the good counsel for the defense for his response.
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