Photo credit: Senate PH

House prosecutors on Thursday dismissed the alleged "Oplan Romanov" as nothing more than an unsubstantiated claim raised by the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it has no factual basis and cannot be used to justify the alleged threats at the center of the impeachment trial.

The issue surfaced after Duterte's camp suggested that the Vice President's controversial statements were made amid concerns over an alleged plot against her family. Prosecutors, however, argued that no evidence has been presented to support the existence of such an operation.

House prosecution spokesperson Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the alleged "Oplan Romanov" exists only in the defense's narrative.

"Maliwanag na walang kahit na anong ebidensya na mailalapag dito sa paglilitis na ito na mapapatunayan ito in any way. It just remains an allegation."

Tolosa added that raising the issue appears to be an attempt to justify the alleged threats made by Duterte.

"At the end of the day, it seems that by raising this matter, it seems that they're trying to justify the threat by raising this."

House impeachment prosecutor and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora echoed the same position, saying the prosecution has yet to see any proof that such an operation ever existed.

"Litong lito kami sa Romanov na 'yan e."

She said the allegation remains unsupported and described it as something created by the defense.

"Kathang isip ito ng kabilang partido dahil wala naman napatunayan na may ganoong plot sa kanila."

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also stressed that the alleged threats should not be taken lightly simply because they were described as conditional.

"Hindi biro 'yang ganyan. It's a grave crime."

"Yung conditional threat naman kasi palusot lang 'yan ng nag grave threats."

Ortega said the statements involved the country's highest-ranking officials and deserve serious scrutiny.

"That's a threat to the highest official of the land."

The prosecution's first witness, National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, earlier testified before the Senate impeachment court that the statements attributed to Duterte constituted "absolute" threats. Calilung also authenticated the videos presented by prosecutors as part of the evidence under Article IV of the impeachment complaint.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun of Zambales rejected claims that Duterte's alleged statements could be excused because she was supposedly triggered by political events.

According to Khonghun, anger or political disagreements can never justify threatening the President.

"Whether she was triggered or not is beside the point."

He said public officials, particularly the country's second-highest official, are expected to exercise restraint even under intense political pressure.

"Sa isang demokratikong lipunan, walang sinuman—lalo na ang Bise Presidente—ang maaaring gumamit ng pagiging 'triggered' bilang dahilan para magplano o magbanta ng pagpatay sa Pangulo."

Khonghun warned that accepting provocation as a defense could set a dangerous precedent for future public officials.

"Kapag tinanggap natin na puwedeng gawing depensa ang pagiging 'triggered,' para na rin nating sinasabing may pagkakataong puwedeng maging katanggap-tanggap ang pagbabanta laban sa Pangulo."

He said the impeachment proceedings should remain focused on whether Duterte's actions violated the Constitution and eroded public trust in the Office of the Vice President.

"Ang hinihingi ng taumbayan ay pananagutan, hindi paliwanag kung bakit nagalit."

The House prosecution continues to build its case under Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which accuses Duterte of committing impeachable offenses through her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez. Additional witnesses are expected to testify when the Senate impeachment trial resumes next week.