THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday filed grave threats and inciting to sedition charges against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In a press briefing, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the cases were filed in connection with Duterte’s previous remarks that she hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if the supposed assassination plot against her were to succeed.
Santiago said the recommendation for the filing of the case came after a thorough evaluation, even as Duterte skipped two invitations from the NBI to attend the investigation in November and December last year.
He said it would be up to the vice president to opt to answer the charges before the prosecutors who will decide whether to file cases before the courts.
“Depende po sa prosecutor’s office, kung gusto niya magpunta, kung hindi, nasa kanya po yun,” Santiago said.
“All cases filed by law enforcement officers shall be filed before the prosecutor’s office, and the prosecutor’s office shall conduct a preliminary investigation whether to file or not. They may decide to summon VP Sara or witnesses.”
The NBI chief said this is in line with a recent directive requiring prosecutors to pursue only charges that have a reasonable degree of likelihood to result in conviction.
Santiago also admitted that they have yet to identify the supposed assassin.
Meanwhile, Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said the National Prosecution Service would be evaluating the complaint.
“Pending the results of the evaluation, we cannot say anything more for now in order not to preempt the results and prejudice the rights of any party,” he said. (PNA)
