NBI witness says 'Operation Romanov' targeted Marcos family, not VP Duterte

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc testified on Tuesday that investigators believed "Operation Romanov" referred to an alleged threat against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the First Family, not Vice President Sara Duterte.

During the fifth day of Duterte's impeachment trial, Senator-Judge Panfilo Lacson asked Lotoc whether he had the impression that the supposed "Operation Romanov" was directed at the Vice President.

"I don't think so, Your Honor. First of all, the context of Operation Romanov was that it was directed against the First Family. It's definitely against the President and his family," Lotoc said.

"Ngayon nung tinanong ho siya ni Princess Maui, doon kami nagtaka. Anong ibig sabihin ng Romanov? Ano'ng context niya ng Romanov? Bakit against sa Vice President? Hindi naman sila ang First Family eh," he added.

Lotoc said these questions prompted the NBI to invite vlogger Princess Maui, who had raised "Operation Romanov" during Duterte's online press conference in November 2024, to explain what she meant. The press conference was also where Duterte said she had spoken to someone about killing Marcos if she herself were killed.

According to Lotoc, Princess Maui never responded to the bureau's invitation.

The NBI official also testified that investigators traced the first public mention of "Operation Romanov" to Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte during a Maisug Rally in January 2024.

"Based doon sa video na 'yun, January if I'm not mistaken, 'yung Maisug Rally. Ang unang nagbanggit ng Romanov, si Mayor Baste—parang tinatakot niya 'yung Presidente," Lotoc said.

He said investigators found it inconsistent that Princess Maui later raised the same term in connection with Vice President Duterte.

"So, medyo nakita namin, teka muna, parang baliktad yata ang sitwasyon. Kung kay Mayor Baste nagsimula ang Romanov, bakit ito 'yung tinatanong ni Princess Maui sa Bise Presidente? So, medyo, it doesn't make sense, sir."

Because Princess Maui did not cooperate with the investigation, Lotoc said the NBI classified the alleged "Operation Romanov" plot as "non-validated information."

Lacson admitted he had initially believed that "Operation Romanov" referred to an alleged threat against Duterte and her family until Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo clarified otherwise during the proceedings.

Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo later asked what steps the NBI took after Princess Maui failed to verify the claim. Lotoc said investigators relied on open-source information but were unable to substantiate it.

When asked whether he considered Princess Maui's information credible, Lotoc replied:

"It is not reliable, insofar as the Cybercrime Division is concerned."