NBI recommends inciting to sedition, grave threat complaints vs VP Sara

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The National Bureau of Investigation had probed the threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against the President, First Lady, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, during a midnight virtual press conference in November 2024

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended the filing of criminal complaints of inciting to sedition and grave threat against Vice President Sara Duterte over her statement that she had arranged to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed first.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed the filing over GMA-7 Superradyo DZBB on Wednesday, February 12, saying, “We have finally recommended the filing of inciting to sedition and grave threat against the vice president.”

This is a criminal process that will be handled now by a prosecution team of the Department of Justice (DOJ).  It’s the DOJ who will decide when to start holding hearings for the preliminary investigation, if at all. They also have the discretion to dismiss it outright.

If they decide to issue subpoenas for her defense, Duterte will have to be summoned and take an oath on her counteraffidavit.

If they find probable cause, this will be the only time that they will file charges and Duterte will be considered charged.

This is a different process from the impeachment against Duterte. Santiago said it himself: “Yun pong impeachment ay political po ‘yan eh, Congress at Senate ang bahala diyan. ‘Yung amin po ay criminal aspect.”

(Impeachment is political, Congress and the Senate will handle that. We will handle the criminal aspect.)

While it is a legally separate procedure, it is expected to bolster the articles of impeachment that charge Duterte of committing culpable violation of the Constitution when she made those statements against Marcos and his kin. It’s also in the prerogative of House prosecutors to attach any criminal findings to their evidence.

Santiago said vice presidents are immune from suit. – Rappler.com