Philippine VP Duterte Faces Criminal Charges Over Assassination Threats

The Philippine Department of Justice on Tuesday filed criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte over alleged threats to assassinate the president, the first lady, and a former House speaker.

The charges were filed with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court over threats to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“We confirm that the grave threats case filed today is the same matter referred by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to the DOJ. This matter is also the same one raised in the impeachment proceedings,” DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Previously, the NBI filed a complaint against Duterte over alleged incitement to sedition and grave threats.

At a press conference, Duterte reportedly said she had hired an assassin to kill Marcos, the first lady, and Romualdez if she herself were killed.

Martinez said prosecutors recommended bail of 120,000 Philippine pesos (around Rp34 million) for Duterte’s temporary release.

Duterte is currently facing an impeachment trial in the Philippine Senate. The threat is one of four charges against her.

The three other charges relate to alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and unexplained wealth.

However, Duterte’s lawyers argue that the criminal case cannot proceed while the impeachment process is ongoing.

“As an impeachable official, the Vice President cannot be prosecuted for alleged offences that are also the subject of the impeachment case,” said defence lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim.