'No evidence': Sara Duterte files counter affidavit vs sedition, grave threat complaints | ABS-CBN
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'No evidence': Sara Duterte files counter affidavit vs sedition, grave threat complaints
'No evidence': Sara Duterte files counter affidavit vs sedition, grave threat complaints
Katrina Domingo,
ABS-CBN News
Published May 09, 2025 03:16 PM PHT
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Updated May 09, 2025 06:53 PM PHT
Vice-President Sara Duterte attends the House committee hearing on November 25, 2024, tackling confidential fund expenses of the OVP and the Department of Education during her helm. ABS-CBN News/file
Vice-President Sara Duterte attends the House committee hearing on November 25, 2024, tackling confidential fund expenses of the OVP and the Department of Education during her helm. ABS-CBN News/file MANILA (3RD UPDATE) - Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday claimed that there is “no evidence” that proves that she committed the criminal offenses of inciting to sedition and grave threat when she disclosed a supposed kill plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and some of his family members.
MANILA (3RD UPDATE) - Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday claimed that there is “no evidence” that proves that she committed the criminal offenses of inciting to sedition and grave threat when she disclosed a supposed kill plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and some of his family members.
Duterte made the assertion in her counter affidavit, which she filed at the National Prosecution Service’s Office at the Department of Justice (DOJ) around 2 p.m., along with her defense counsels Michael Poa and Paul Lim.
Duterte made the assertion in her counter affidavit, which she filed at the National Prosecution Service’s Office at the Department of Justice (DOJ) around 2 p.m., along with her defense counsels Michael Poa and Paul Lim.
“I categorically deny all charges against me,” the Vice President said in her counter affidavit.
“I categorically deny all charges against me,” the Vice President said in her counter affidavit.
“Being accused of a criminal offense, I am constitutionally presumed innocent even in these proceedings, and need not dignify the complaint with a reply, when no evidence has been shown to support it,” the document read.
“Being accused of a criminal offense, I am constitutionally presumed innocent even in these proceedings, and need not dignify the complaint with a reply, when no evidence has been shown to support it,” the document read.
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“Nevertheless, I welcome this opportunity to set the facts straight and to correct [the] complainants’ false allegations, clear my name of their baseless charges, and spare our government and our people the corresponding waste of limited time, effort and resources being caused thereby.”
“Nevertheless, I welcome this opportunity to set the facts straight and to correct [the] complainants’ false allegations, clear my name of their baseless charges, and spare our government and our people the corresponding waste of limited time, effort and resources being caused thereby.”
Duterte’s legal counsels refused to substantiate the Vice President’s counter affidavit before the media.
Duterte’s legal counsels refused to substantiate the Vice President’s counter affidavit before the media.
“We will not discuss po mung yung aming defenses. We don’t want to preempt with due respect na din para ma appreciate without outside influence ng mga prosecutors,” Poa told reporters before leaving the DOJ premises.
“We will not discuss po mung yung aming defenses. We don’t want to preempt with due respect na din para ma appreciate without outside influence ng mga prosecutors,” Poa told reporters before leaving the DOJ premises.
“Consistent lang naman po ang ating Vice President. Parati naman po niyang sinasabi noon na haharapin naman talaga niya sa tamang venue ang mga binabatong accusations laban sa kaniya,” he said.
“Consistent lang naman po ang ating Vice President. Parati naman po niyang sinasabi noon na haharapin naman talaga niya sa tamang venue ang mga binabatong accusations laban sa kaniya,” he said.
The Office of the Prosecutor gave the NBI a chance to respond to Duterte’s counter affidavit, Poa said.
The Office of the Prosecutor gave the NBI a chance to respond to Duterte’s counter affidavit, Poa said.
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“Hindi naman sumagot ng diretso ang NBI sa loob dahil marahil babasahin pa nila ang counter affidavit so hihintayin na lang po natin,” he said, noting that the next preliminary investigation is set on May 16.
“Hindi naman sumagot ng diretso ang NBI sa loob dahil marahil babasahin pa nila ang counter affidavit so hihintayin na lang po natin,” he said, noting that the next preliminary investigation is set on May 16.
When asked if Duterte will attend the next setting, Poa said: “Hindi kinakailangan.”
When asked if Duterte will attend the next setting, Poa said: “Hindi kinakailangan.”
“Usual naman yan na dalawa ng setting for preliminary investigation. Ang importante lang po ay umattend si VP doon sa pagsubmit ng kaniyang counter affidavit,” he said.
“Usual naman yan na dalawa ng setting for preliminary investigation. Ang importante lang po ay umattend si VP doon sa pagsubmit ng kaniyang counter affidavit,” he said.
The Vice President refused to answer questions from the media, saying that she has been advised by her legal team to refrain from entertaining questions in their presence.
The Vice President refused to answer questions from the media, saying that she has been advised by her legal team to refrain from entertaining questions in their presence.
“Sabi ng mga abogado ko huwag daw ako magsasalita… Magsasalita ako kapag wala ang mga lawyers ko pero hindi ako makapagsalita kasi nandito sila
“Sabi ng mga abogado ko huwag daw ako magsasalita… Magsasalita ako kapag wala ang mga lawyers ko pero hindi ako makapagsalita kasi nandito sila
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Poa explained that their camp “does not want to really politicize this matter further.”
Poa explained that their camp “does not want to really politicize this matter further.”
“Sa atin naman kasi ngayon it’s very straightforward,” he said.
“Sa atin naman kasi ngayon it’s very straightforward,” he said.
“It’s a legal process. We are here to attend a legal process, yun lang naman po yung nangyari talaga,” he said.
“It’s a legal process. We are here to attend a legal process, yun lang naman po yung nangyari talaga,” he said.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier filed the charges against the Vice President after she divulged in an online press conference that she has contracted an individual to assassinate Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez should an alleged kill plot against her succeed.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier filed the charges against the Vice President after she divulged in an online press conference that she has contracted an individual to assassinate Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez should an alleged kill plot against her succeed.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that there will be “no problem with due process” in the Vice President’s case.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that there will be “no problem with due process” in the Vice President’s case.
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“No problem with due process, everything. We respect the Office. That’s what important,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview hours ahead of Duterte’s arrive at Padre Faura.
“No problem with due process, everything. We respect the Office. That’s what important,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview hours ahead of Duterte’s arrive at Padre Faura.
When asked to comment of Remulla’s guarantee of due process for the second-in-command, Poa said: “That’s the minimum not only for the vice president pero sa kung sino man ang dumadaan sa preliminary investigation ng DOJ.”
When asked to comment of Remulla’s guarantee of due process for the second-in-command, Poa said: “That’s the minimum not only for the vice president pero sa kung sino man ang dumadaan sa preliminary investigation ng DOJ.”
Under the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code, those who will be found guilty of inciting to sedition may be imposed with “the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period” and a fine of up to P400,000.
Under the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code, those who will be found guilty of inciting to sedition may be imposed with “the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period” and a fine of up to P400,000.
While the penalty for those who will be found guilty of grave threats shall depend on the threat that was issued, and whether or not the offender attained his purpose for issuing the threat.
While the penalty for those who will be found guilty of grave threats shall depend on the threat that was issued, and whether or not the offender attained his purpose for issuing the threat.
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