Politics · Philippines Bureau
Duterte camp alleges political persecution in NBI property probe
Vice President Sara Duterte's office has accused the Marcos administration of weaponizing the National Bureau of Investigation against her, dismissing an agency report on alleged property misstatements as a politically motivated attack.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The office of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday leveled charges of political persecution against the Marcos administration, alleging that the National Bureau of Investigation has been deployed as a tool to damage her reputation. Vice President Duterte's spokesperson, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., characterized the NBI's findings regarding her alleged undeclared properties as a "shameless smear campaign," rejecting the agency's conclusions outright.
Panelo Jr. specifically questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag's decision to make the investigation's results public, suggesting the move was designed to inflict maximum political damage rather than pursue legitimate law enforcement objectives. The statement reflects deepening tensions between the Vice President and the Duterte administration as various agencies investigate matters related to her financial disclosures and property holdings.
The accusations add another layer to the ongoing political friction between Vice President Duterte and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., whose administration has faced criticism from opposition figures who contend that government agencies are being misused for partisan purposes. The dispute underscores broader concerns about institutional independence and the politicization of investigative bodies in the Philippines.