Manila: Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Thursday said the video in which Vice President Sara Duterte issued a 'kill threat' against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his family may contain elements of inciting to sedition, although she stressed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would determine the appropriate criminal charges.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro made the remark after the DOJ filed a grave threats complaint against Duterte, saying the case was based on evidence, including a video that had been publicly circulated. A trial lawyer by profession, Castro offered her personal legal assessment of the full video, distinguishing it from the DOJ's determination of the actual charge.
'As a lawyer, if you will watch the full video -the video in full, ang effect noon is (the effect is) there is this intention to sow hatred against the President, against the government. So it is not just a simple grave threats. Personally, my opinion,' she said. Pressed what offense she believed could apply beyond grave threats, Castro replied: 'For me, but I cannot go against the DOJ, there is this element of inciting to sedition.'
Castro said the criminal complaint may proceed independently of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Duterte because the two cases serve different purposes. 'Sa impeachment proceedings kasi, dito inaalam kung iyong leader ay dapat na maging leader pa - iyong kanyang kapasidad, iyong kanyang mental health, iyong kanyang pagiging agresibo, iyong kanyang anger management, ito lahat ay dapat na nakikita kung ikaw ay magiging leader (In impeachment proceedings, the aim is to determine whether a leader should remain in office -assessing their capacity, mental health, tendencies toward aggression, and anger management; these are all factors that must be considered when one holds a leadership position),' she said.
'Ang criminal case naman, ito ay iyong liability dahil gumawa ka ng isang krimen. So magkaiba po siya. So puwede po siyang pagsabayin (As for the criminal case, that involves your liability for committing a crime. So, they are different, and they can proceed simultaneously).' Duterte's remarks are already part of the impeachment proceedings, where one of the articles alleges grave threats arising from her public statements against the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
