National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc testified during the fourth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial that the alleged threat against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was “serious” and “real and actual.”

During questioning by the House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, Lotoc, who led the NBI investigation in 2024, was asked about his impression of Duterte’s statements allegedly involving an instruction to kill the president and two others.

“To me, as the chief investigator at that time, the utterance as made by the vice president was serious, and the threat was real and actual,” Lotoc said.

Lotoc confirmed that the assessment was included in the NBI’s investigation report.

When asked what factors led the NBI to conclude that the alleged threat was serious and real, Lotoc said they examined the content and context of Duterte’s statements.

“We considered the content and context of the utterances made by the vice president [on] November 23, 2024, as well as the utterances made by the vice president In October 18, 2024, and the reactions from the recipients as well as reactions from several government agencies,” Lotoc said.

Lotoc also identified four factors considered in the investigation: “Number one, the delivery or manner in which the utterances were. Number two, the literal meaning of the statement. Number three, the nature of the instruction. And number four, the relationship between the parties.”

His testimony came as the prosecution presented evidence under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment concerning the alleged grave threats against the President and other government.