VP camp seeks oral arguments on grave threats case

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday said it is filing a manifestation to conduct oral arguments in a bid to dismiss the grave threats case filed against her.

This came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a complaint of three counts of grave threats against Duterte before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The case stemmed from an inquiry by the National Bureau of Investigation into Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference wherein she said she had talked to someone to have President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she herself is killed.

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That confessed slay plot, which her supporters had played down as being merely “conditional,” also constitutes the last of four articles of impeachment against the Vice President now being heard in her impeachment trial.

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Paul Lawrence Lim, Duterte’s counsel for the grave threats case, said “The defense is now filing a manifestation emphasizing the need for oral arguments on the Vice President’s motion to quash, considering the far-reaching consequences of the grave threats case.” He said earlier the case should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

READ: DOJ files raps vs VP Duterte over Marcos slay ‘threat’

Her alleged offense falls under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code on the crime of grave threats, in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175). The bail recommended is P120,000.

Just ‘a question’

Lim argued, however, that “If a sitting Vice President may be indicted and prosecuted, then other incumbent impeachable officers such as the Ombudsman, members of the Constitutional Commissions, Supreme Court Justices and even the President, may also be indicted and prosecuted.”

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He also commented on Palace press officer Claire Castro’s reaction to his statements when she said on Friday: “Are they issuing yet another threat? It appears to be the same narrative. However, we must remember that no one is above the law. Anyone who violates the law or abuses their authority must face the consequences of their actions.”

Lim said all he did was ask “a question.”

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“If she (Duterte) will be treated this way, will it be the same for the rest? Is that the meaning of that? Because what she (Castro) said is correct: ‘No one is above the law.’ And I agree with that.”

“If the vice president has to answer, for example, for any crime, should it be now that she is still a sitting vice president or later when she is no longer [in office], if ever? Is it the same also for other impeachable officers? Should they also be already prosecuted now while they are sitting or will it be after when they are no longer incumbent? That’s all,” Lim said. /cb