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The focus on Vice President Sara Duterte may no longer be just about a controversial “kill threat.” For House Human Rights Chair Bienvenido Abante Jr., the bigger question now is whether there’s a broader and more dangerous plan unfolding.

Abante is urging the National Bureau of Investigation to dig deeper—not just into Duterte’s remarks, but into what he believes could be signs of a coordinated destabilization effort involving the Duterte family.

The call came during a heated hearing at the House Committee on Justice, which was wrapping up its deliberations on impeachment complaints against Duterte. The panel would later move toward finding probable cause on the remaining charges.

At the center of the controversy is a November 2024 press conference where Duterte said she had instructed someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez—but only if she herself were assassinated.

The NBI testified that the video of that statement is authentic, not manipulated, and not generated by artificial intelligence—effectively removing doubts about its legitimacy.

But for Abante, that statement doesn’t stand alone.

He pointed to remarks made by Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who referenced historical figures like the Romanovs and Benito Mussolini—both associated with violent ends to political regimes. Abante interpreted these comparisons as symbolic, suggesting a narrative where the current leadership could face a similar fate.

From there, he connected the dots to Duterte’s earlier “designated survivor” comment during her absence from the 2024 State of the Nation Address—raising concerns that such statements may be shaping a storyline about the possible removal of a sitting president and a transfer of power.

Abante also flagged Duterte’s presence in prayer rallies supporting detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, where rhetoric questioning the legitimacy of the Marcos administration reportedly surfaced.

But perhaps the most serious claim comes from testimony tied to former president Rodrigo Duterte. Abante cited an affidavit from alleged “bagman” Ramil Madriaga, who claimed there was an understanding that Duterte’s daughter would eventually assume the presidency—possibly even before the end of the current term.

According to the affidavit, if that transition didn’t happen voluntarily, “extraordinary measures” could be considered. These allegedly included scenarios such as assassination, mass resignations, civil disobedience, and even an armed assault on Malacañang.

Abante stressed that when viewed together—public statements, political actions, and sworn testimony—the pattern is hard to ignore.

Meanwhile, NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that intelligence reports on Duterte loyalists, including alleged links within police and military ranks, had surfaced during earlier congressional inquiries. Some discussions even mentioned up to 2,000 loyalists—far exceeding the Vice President’s official security detail.

That line of questioning prompted Committee Chair Gerville Luistro to acknowledge a shift in tone during the hearing—from a narrow probe into specific allegations to a broader look at possible destabilization.

In the end, what started as an inquiry into a controversial remark is now expanding into something far more serious: a potential investigation into actions that could undermine the country’s constitutional order.

For Abante, the message is clear—this is no longer just about words, but about what those words could mean when placed in a larger context.