Though facing assault, disobedience, and grave coercion from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Nov. 27, shrugged off what she said were cases that “do not hold water.”
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media during a press conference in Zamboanga City on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 (Screenshot from OVP Facebook page)
The official held a press conference in Zamboanga City to address the issues surrounding the events last weekend when she lashed out at President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
A scuffle between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) also transpired when Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, Duterte’s chief of staff, was being transferred to the St. Luke’s Medical Center from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
“Well, on face value, hindi ko naman nakita kung ano ‘yung mga allegations nya. Meron lang mga pinagpasa-pasahan na cover nung complaint (I did not see the allegations. There was just the cover of the complaint being passed around). On face value, do not hold water,” she said.
“Pangalawa is ‘yung (the) grave assault. I believe pinipilit talaga lang nila na gawaan ng kaso ‘yung mga remarks ko (they are squeezing a case out of my remarks),” the official added.
The QCPD also on Wednesday filed criminal charges against Duterte and Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, who heads the Vice President Security Protection Group (VPSPG), and several other security personnel and staff of the OVP.
The charges were filed by Lt. Col. Jason Villamor, a police physician, and were based on violations of Article 148, or Direct Assault; Article 151, or Disobedience to a Person in Authority and Agents of Persons in Authority; and, Article 286, or Grave Coercion, of the Revised Penal Code.
These stemmed from an incident wherein a video showed Lachica pushing Villamor when Lopez was being transferred to SLMC.
Duterte also allegedly intervened and forced Lopez’s transfer via a private ambulance to SLMC despite an order from the House of Representatives and government protocol to send persons under its custody only to a public hospital.
The Vice President, however, also laughed at two other charges—alleged grave threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175) and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479).
“Pangatlo, natatawa ako sa (I find the) violations on the anti-terrorism law kasi sinusubukan nila (funny because they are trying) to reach sa aking (my) properties and assets,” she said, adding that the same was done to expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr.
“So, they have a playbook on what they do to a person na kakasuhan mo ng (who will be charged with) anti-terrorism law,” she added.
The controversial Anti-Terror Law was signed by her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to clamp down on critics.
The official furthered that the charges might lead to the cancellation of her passport, a Interpol red notice, freezing of her assets under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and a search warrant to allow authorities access to her properties.
The Vice President also divulged plans to file cases against those involved in the incidents. These charges will involve disobedience, kidnapping, and robbery.
Meanwhile, she requested the NBI to move the schedule of her meeting with them in relation to the subpoena issued against her because of her remarks about hiring an assassin to kill the First Couple and Romualdez.
She said that the initially set schedule of Friday, Nov. 29, falls on the same day as the next House good government committee hearing, which is her “priority.”
Friday’s hearing would be the third time she attends the committee’s inquiry into the OVP’s and Department of Education’s (DepEd) alleged misuse of confidential funds.
“Yun din talaga ang promise ko sa kanila simula pa noong investigation sasamahan ko ‘yung employees ng OVP na pinapatawag sa mga hearings (That was my promise to them since the start of the investigation I will support the OVP employees when they’re called to the hearings),” Duterte shared.