NBI trial witness: Evidence backs grave threats, sedition raps vs Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation told the Senate impeachment court on Monday, July 13, that the NBI found prima facie evidence to support criminal complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte for grave threats and inciting to sedition over her previous remarks.
NBI Senior Agent Jeremy Lotoc, who is also a lawyer, said the bureau found sufficient basis to file complaints against Duterte over her pronouncements in press conferences in October and November 2024.
"Yes, based on our findings. We believe the vice president committed a crime, grave threats, inciting to sedition... prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction," Lotoc said during his testimony.
Lotoc said Duterte's remarks in her November 2024 Zoom press conference and October 2024 press conference may tend to "stir up the people to go against the government" and "undermine public safety and public order."
Asked by Sen. Erwin Tulfo about the strongest piece of evidence against Duterte, Lotoc said: "The pieces of evidence that we attached or incorporated in our investigation are sufficient and have satisfied the requirements of the quantum of evidence required."
On Duterte's November 2024 Zoom press conference, Lotoc said there was no need to prove that an assassin was actually hired for a threat to be considered a grave threat.
Lotoc also said Duterte's remarks in both press conferences threatened the life of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The November 2024 Zoom press conference drew attention after Duterte said she had hired an assassin to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to her.
What the law says
Grave threats, under the Revised Penal Code, are committed when a person "shall threaten another with the infliction upon the person, honor or property of the latter or of his family of any wrong amounting to a crime."
Inciting to sedition is committed when a person, "without taking any direct part in the crime of sedition," incites others to commit acts constituting sedition "by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners, or other representations tending to the same end."
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