DOJ may question Rodrigo Duterte over ‘fractured governance’ claims

HOUSE PROBE Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies in the House of Representatives on Nov. 13, 2024. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it may ask former President Rodrigo Duterte to explain his remarks wherein he told the Armed Forces of the Philippines to rectify what he deemed is an ongoing “fractured governance” of the country.

DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres was asked if the justice department would seek to clarify Duterte’s statements on Monday wherein he enjoined the soldiers to “correct” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his ally and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez due to this situation.

The former president’s statement came after her daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, revealed she had already talked with a person whom she supposedly instructed to kill Marcos, his wife Liza, and Romualdez if she is killed.

The National Bureau of Investigation, an agency under the DOJ, on Tuesday issued a subpoena against the vice president over her remarks.

Andres, when asked if the former president can also be asked to explain his words, told radio dwPM: “Tama po yan. Malaking posibilidad din po yan.”

(That is correct. That is also a big possibility.)

“Dahil kamakailan nagbigay sya ng pahayag on this fractured governance at kailangan daw pong pumasok ang military,” Andres also said, reiterating that for him, such remarks are already bordering on sedition.

(Because recently, he made a statement about this fractured governance and that the military needs to intervene.)

Andres noted that military intervention in civilian governance is unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the justice official said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla is now looking at solid evidence, or “prima facie with reasonable certainty of conviction,” before filing charges.

“Nais kong ipahayag na hindi po magpa-file ang Department of Justice ng mahinang kaso,” Andres said, without directly referring to the possible respondent to the case.

(I want to inform everyone that the Department of Justice will not file a weak case.)

“Dati rati po eh nagagamit ang Department of Justice for harassment. Eh binago na po yan ng DOJ,” he added.

(The Department of Justice was once being used for harassment. The DOJ has changed that.)