VP Sara's P5,000 Gunman Remark Stuns House Prosecutors

In a recent ANC 24/7 report, House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers voiced shock at Vice President Sara Duterte's "P5,000 gunman" remark during a Free Duterte Now protest outside the ICC in The Hague. The comment, made on July 29, drew immediate reactions from fellow prosecutors Rep. Terry Ridon and Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong at press conferences this week. For families in Quezon City barangays and jeepney drivers in Cebu, the exchange raises fresh questions about leadership rhetoric amid rising power rates and inflation.

VP Sara P5,000 Gunman Remark Stuns House Prosecutors

Manila, Philippines — House prosecutors condemned Vice President Sara Duterte's July 29 remark at a Free Duterte Now rally in The Hague, where she described hiring a gunman for P5,000 to kill a mistress as an example of common gun violence in the Philippines. The statement, captured in viral clips, came during her second public use of the scenario while urging the ICC to speed up her father former President Rodrigo Duterte's trial. Prosecutors tied the comment directly to the ongoing Senate impeachment trial on grave threats under Article IV.

The Remark That Stunned Prosecutors

Vice President Sara Duterte spoke at the Free Duterte Now protest in front of the ICC in The Hague on July 29. She said, "My husband has a mistress, I can hire a gunman for 5,000 pesos to kill the mistress. That is how, for 5,000 pesos, that is how bad gun violence in the Philippines is." She added, "That is, again, EJK. So how can you say that all your listed victims, all your listed complainants, are supposed victims of the drug war?" The remark challenged the ICC's classification of drug war victims and referenced her husband Atty. Mans Carpio. Clips spread quickly online, marking the second time she has used the P5,000 gunman example in public.

Clips of Vice President Sara Duterte's July 29 remark at the Free Duterte Now protest outside the ICC in The Hague spread rapidly across social media platforms in recent days. Viewers noted the casual tone and questioned how she knew the exact cost, with comments such as "So ba't alam mo magkano? Freudian slip siya eh" and political commentator Jesus Falcis joking "OMG OMG OMG! Paano mo alam, Madam Vice President? Nasubukan mo na? Freudian slip!" Others described the delivery as "Sobrang casual, sanay na sanay" and "Alam na alam. Kasi gawain niya," reflecting public perception that the example revealed familiarity with such scenarios rather than a simple illustration of gun violence.

During the same speech, Vice President Duterte challenged the ICC directly by stating that gun violence remains common in the Philippines and that authorities cannot confirm whether listed complainants were truly victims of the drug war. She said the P5,000 scenario represented another form of extrajudicial killing and asked how the court could classify all listed victims as drug war cases. This marked the second time she has publicly used the P5,000 gunman example while urging faster proceedings for her father former President Rodrigo Duterte's trial.

Barbers: 'Parang Kinumpirma Niya na May Kilala Siya'

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte held a July 31 press conference with Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. covered by ANC 24/7. He stated, "Nagulat ako coming from the Vice President sa panahon na nagkaroon ng paglitis sa kanyang utterances of grave threats sa unang artikulo [ng impeachment]. Parang kinumpirma niya na may kilala siya [na gunman]." Barbers noted the timing during the grave threats trial and warned that such remarks create a bad impression on investors and tourists considering the Philippines. He emphasized the statement's impact on the country's image abroad.

House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte held a press conference on Friday, July 31, alongside Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. The session was covered by ANC 24/7 and focused on Vice President Sara Duterte's July 29 remark. Barbers expressed surprise that the comment came at a time when the Senate impeachment court was already examining her earlier utterances of grave threats under Article IV of the complaint. He stated that the timing made the statement particularly striking during active proceedings.

Barbers observed that the remark appeared to confirm she knew someone capable of such an act. He warned that comments about hiring killers for specific amounts create a negative impression of the Philippines among foreign investors and tourists who may be evaluating the country for business or travel. The press conference highlighted concerns that such rhetoric from a high official could affect external perceptions at a moment when the grave threats case remains under active review.

Ridon: A 'Violent Mind' and the P612.5 Million Distraction

Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list spoke at a House of Representatives press conference on July 30. He said, "Well again, with respect, I think the vice president has a violent mind." Ridon added that she is being prosecuted on threats yet continues to discuss contracting a killer for P5,000. He questioned whether the price of the President's life is only P5,000 and warned, "She may try to change the conversation, but she cannot make the checks, bank records and sworn testimony disappear." The reference points to P612.5 million in confidential funds encashments detailed by two former LandBank branch managers. Ridon urged officials not to normalize violence rhetoric.

Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list spoke at a House of Representatives press conference on July 30 and described Vice President Sara Duterte as having a violent mind. He noted that she faces prosecution over threats yet continues to discuss contracting a killer for P5,000, calling this the last thing any person under investigation for threats should do. Ridon asked whether the price of the President's life is only P5,000 and questioned if that amount represented the exact mechanism she allegedly used when making prior threats against the President and his family.

Ridon stated that she may try to change the conversation but cannot make the checks, bank records, and sworn testimony disappear. He referred to the P612.5 million in confidential funds encashments detailed by two former LandBank branch managers who testified before the impeachment court. Ridon urged officials not to normalize rhetoric involving violence, emphasizing that such statements persist even as evidence on the confidential funds case remains part of the ongoing proceedings.

Adiong: 'Mastery' Over Street Killings

Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, the House trial spokesperson, reacted on July 30. He stated he does not want to consider that the Vice President has mastery over street killings, yet her detailed illustration suggests otherwise. Adiong asked how she knows such specifics to the point of illustrating them clearly. His comments came right after the prosecution concluded presenting evidence on Article IV of the impeachment complaint.

The Grave Threats Case at the Core

Article IV of the impeachment centers on Vice President Duterte's November 23, 2024 livestream statement where she said she had contracted an individual to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed. The Senate impeachment court has granted subpoenas for her bank and tax records. The BIR submitted her income tax records, and several banks provided records after President Marcos authorized their release. The House prosecution panel finished presenting its evidence on this article in recent days.

Article IV of the impeachment centers on Vice President Sara Duterte's November 23, 2024 online press briefing in which she stated she had contracted an individual to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. She had earlier remarked that she wanted the President's head cut off. Her defense team has described the kill remark as unconventional but justified while the Senate impeachment court continues to examine the matter.

The Senate impeachment court granted subpoenas for her bank and tax records. The Bureau of Internal Revenue submitted her income tax records, and several banks provided records after President Marcos authorized their release. The House prosecution panel recently concluded presenting its evidence on Article IV, leaving the defense to respond as the court rules on the admissibility of the subpoenaed materials in the coming weeks.

Philippine Context: The Hague Stage and a Father's Trial

Vice President Duterte has organized Free Duterte Now rallies abroad, including in The Hague, to push the ICC to expedite former President Rodrigo Duterte's trial on crimes against humanity charges tied to the drug war. The ICC has set a trial date for the former president, who was arrested in March 2025 and flown to the Netherlands. Her appearances from abroad turn the protests into political theater while the Senate impeachment court in Manila continues hearings on grave threats, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

Vice President Sara Duterte has organized Free Duterte Now rallies abroad, including the July 29 protest in The Hague, to press the ICC to expedite her father former President Rodrigo Duterte's trial on crimes against humanity charges linked to the drug war. The ICC has set a trial date for the former president, who was arrested in March 2025 and flown to the Netherlands. These appearances occur while the Senate impeachment court in Manila continues hearings on grave threats, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

She resigned as DepEd secretary in June 2024. Critics argue that holding rallies overseas while the Senate trial proceeds shows she is prioritizing her political base ahead of the 2028 election cycle. The contrast between her Hague appearances and the Manila proceedings underscores the divided attention between her father's international case and her own domestic impeachment, with both unfolding against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions in the country.

Impact on Filipinos and What to Watch For

Ordinary Filipinos in Manila sari-sari stores and Davao farming communities see the exchange as another sign that violence rhetoric competes with urgent issues like power bill spikes and inflation. The normalization of such language affects public confidence in institutions including the Philippine National Police and the Senate. Investors and tourists may view the country differently after Barbers' warning. Next in the impeachment trial, the defense will present its case and the court will rule on the admissibility of the subpoenaed bank and tax records. These steps will determine how the grave threats article proceeds amid the ongoing political divide.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.