NBI files inciting to sedition, grave threats charges vs VP Duterte

Criminal charges for inciting to sedition and grave threats were filed on Wednesday, Feb. 12, againt Vice President Sara Duterte for the alleged threats she hurled against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

The charges were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Director Jaime B. Santiago said during a press briefing.

“Inciting to sedition ang naifile namin and grave threats (We filed a complaint for inciting to sedition and grave threats),” confirmed Santiago during the briefing.

DOJ Prosecutor General Richard D. Fadullon said the complaint "will again be evaluated to determine if the evidence is complete.”

“If it is, then that is the only time it can be referred for preliminary investigation,’ Fadullon pointed out. 

“Pending the results of the evaluation, we cannot say anything more for now, in order not to preempt the results and prejudice the rights of any party,” he added.

Sedition is a crime committed by persons "who rise publicly and tumultuously to attain by force or intimidation, or by other means outside of legal methods, destructive social, economic or political objectives, usually resulting in the disruption of public peace."

Inciting to sedition is the "unlawful act of a person who, without taking any direct part in the crime of sedition, should incite others to the accomplishment of any of the acts which constitute sedition by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners, or other representations tending to the same end, or the act of any person who utters seditious words or speeches, write or publish or circulate scurrilous libels against the government or duly constituted authorities."

Grave threat under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) "is treated as a serious offense as they involve a threat of harm to a person's life, honor, or property."

Santiago explained that under the procedures, "all cases filed by all law enforcement officers shall be filed with the prosecutor’s office.”

“Then the prosecutor’s office shall conduct a preliminary investigation whether to file or not [in court],” he said.

The charges stemmed from the statements made by VP Duterte during an online press conference held in November last year.

During the press conference, Duterte claimed to have ordered someone, in the event she dies, to kill the President, the First Lady, and the House Speaker.

Prior the filing of the complaint, the NBI investigators twice summoned Duterte to shed light the allegations against her but the vice president snubbed all the summons.

Had Duterte appeared, Santiago said investigators could have asked her to whom she gave the kill order.

“But then ‘yung aming efforts (our efforts) proved futile," he lamented. 

It was not known as of posting if VP Duterte has issued her comment or reaction to the filing of the criminal charges.