Ex-president Duterte snubs grave threat raps probe in QC
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte snubbed the first hearing of the preliminary investigation on the grave threat charges filed against him by House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Monday, Dec. 4.
It will be recalled that the QC Prosecutors Office issued a subpoena dated Oct. 27 and signed by Senior Assistance City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola, summoning the former president in the preliminary investigation on Dec. 4 and 11 and submit his counter-affidavit, his witnesses' affidavits, and other supporting documents on the complaints for violation of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code (Grave Threats) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Act).
The complaint was earlier filed by Castro, the ACT-Teachers Partylist representative, after she allegedly received the death threat from the former leader of the country during an interview in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s confidential funds which will reportedly be used to reestablish the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), and to combat communist recruiters in the educational system. The said threat was reportedly made by the former president during an interview with Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) in October.
In an interview with reporters, Castro said that only two legal counsels of the former president appeared in the first hearing and claimed that they had not received the subpoena for the hearing and the copy of the complaint.
Castro added that she will also file a supplemental complaint-affidavit due to another death threat statement of Duterte during a SMNI television program on Nov. 16.
She said that the two counsels of the former president received the copies of her complaint-affidavit and supplemental complaint-affidavit.
The hearing on the complaints was set on Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m.
Castro said that she will be disappointed if Duterte will not appear and face the charges filed against him.
During the hearing, members of groups ACT-Teachers Partylist trooped outside the QC Prosecutor's Office building at the Quezon City Hall compound to express support for Castro.