00:00In the discourse yesterday, talking about VP Sarah's statements during the November 23, 2024 press con,
00:08Senator Judge Risa Ontivero stated, and I quote,
00:12None of these statements are proof that the vice president actually contracted an assassin or hired one.
00:18She is absolutely right.
00:22She then asked the question, why are these acts impeachable?
00:26To this question, the prosecution responded,
00:30We understand that these statements may not actually 100% prove that she, in fact, contracted an assassin, end of
00:40quote.
00:41Hence, the prosecution admitted that the video does not prove any fact other than its existence.
00:48In simple words, there is no proof of any contracting of an assassin.
00:54The prosecution's admission before this honorable court made the respondent's position clear.
01:01The prosecution has no other competent evidence to prove that VP Sarah contracted an assassin.
01:08Ang testimony ni Kalilong, gaya ng iba pang ebedensya kuno ng prosecution,
01:14ay hindi sapat para patunayan ang paratang na ito.
01:18Trying to prove this stretched narrative using a hodgepodge of materials
01:22is a waste of this honorable court's time and the Filipino people's money.
01:28Si VP Sarah na mismo ang nagsabi na hindi asasin ang kinausap niya.
01:33This term only came from people who took her statements out of their proper context
01:39and tried to exaggerate them for what they really meant.
01:43The truth of the matter is this.
01:45She and her family were threatened.
01:48And while her response was unconventional, it was justified.
01:54What triggered her response was a question about Operation Romanov,
01:58which is the plot to eliminate VP Sarah and her entire family.
02:05The NBI's own records prove this.
02:08In the minutes of the meeting of Dempsey Reyes' interview,
02:11he said, and I quote,
02:13May press con kasi earlier than that, sabi niya,
02:16parang hindi lang niya gusto daw,
02:18sabi lang niya, gusto daw siyang patayin daw,
02:20according to her, any speaker.
02:22That was during a press conference the day before, November 2022.
02:27End of quote.
02:28During the virtual press con,
02:30Princess Maui mentioned Operation Romanov again
02:34and even warned her about her safety.
02:37Reyes talked about it,
02:39Princess Maui reiterated it,
02:42but the NBI gaslighted it.
02:44When VP Sarah uttered those words,
02:47she was not responding as Sarah Duterte the vice president,
02:51but Sarah Duterte the wife, mother, daughter, and sister
02:56who only sought to protect her own and her family members' lives.
03:01Operation Romanov is in place,
03:04and the threat against their lives is real.
03:08VP Sarah became the target of unauthorized intelligence
03:11and surveillance operations by government operatives
03:14that exposed her family to high-level risks and security threats,
03:19thereby causing intense trauma and uncontrollable fear.
03:23Her homes in Davao and Manila were profiled,
03:26and this is proven by classified gazing reports.
03:29Her trusted security personnel were removed.
03:31Her schedule of official functions, like the one in Naga,
03:35was leaked by intelligence agents,
03:37and her security was heavily compromised.
03:40In sum,
03:41the prosecution was right
03:43in using the term culmination.
03:46But the prosecution's interpretation is wrong.
03:49Rather,
03:51when VP Sarah left the administration,
03:54she suffered various forms of threats and harassment
03:57for many months
03:59from the powers that be,
04:00and the culmination was her statement
04:03on that fateful early morning
04:05in November 2024.
04:09She didn't commit an impeachable offense.
04:13She drew the line in the sand
04:15and said,
04:16enough is enough.
04:17That is the meaning,
04:19and that is the context.
04:21Finally,
04:22as to the alleged grave threats
04:24and inciting to sedition,
04:25these are defined by their vice-penal code
04:27and are punishable by prision correctional.
04:30Thus,
04:30these fall under the jurisdiction
04:32of the MTC or first-level courts.
04:34These charges are not other high crimes
04:36as contemplated by the Constitution
04:38as grounds for impeachment,
04:40and are therefore not impeachable.
04:43After all,
04:44VP Sarah was fighting two important battles that day.
04:48One against the threat to her family's life,
04:50and another against the life of the ordinary Filipino,
04:54constantly suffocated by the immense weight of corruption,
04:57which she talked about during the press con.
05:01She never incited sedition.
05:03She merely echoed the voice of ordinary Filipinos.
05:06Her message that day only reflected
05:08what was already in their hearts and minds.
05:10There was no betrayal of public trust.
05:13She actually upheld the people's trust
05:16as she spoke for in behalf of the people.
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