Why ‘terrorism’ raps? Sara Duterte went beyond words, says DOJ exec

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres. —Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte could face terrorism charges under the very law her father had signed as the Department of Justice (DOJ) viewed her threat to kill the President as an act intended to “harm or threaten the lives of people,” to instill fear.

In an online press conference early Saturday morning, Duterte revealed that she had contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged plan to eliminate her succeed.

Duterte’s statement was considered by Malacañang as an “active threat” against the President, who later said he would fight it. The Presidential Security Command tightened the security for the President and his family.

READ: NBI summons VP Duterte on her threat to ‘kill’ Marcoses

Her disclosure prompted the National Bureau of Investigation to issue a subpoena on Monday, summoning her to the NBI’s main office at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, so she could explain her side.

Duterte was asked to shed light on the investigation of the alleged grave threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, in connection with Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175) and possible violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11479).

Death, injury, endangerment

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, cited Section 4(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which defines terrorism as any act intended to cause death, serious bodily injury, or endanger a person’s life.

The law specifies that when such acts are carried out to intimidate the public, create fear, or spread a message of terror, the offender shall be deemed guilty of terrorism and face life imprisonment.

“It is clear under our laws that if you take actions to harm or threaten another person’s life, that falls under terrorism, especially if the purpose is to intimidate or create an atmosphere of fear,” Andres said.

3 targets, clear orders

He emphasized that Duterte’s threat went beyond mere words, noting that “she has already begun to act on it.”

“She herself said that she had spoken to someone, identified the targets—three names—with clear instructions on what to do,” Andres added.

Andres also pointed out the political implications of the threat. “We have to understand that in the proper context. The Vice President is the beneficiary if ever the President’s office is vacated by death or incapacity,” he said.

He underscored the gravity of Duterte’s assassination plot, saying that “a threat to the President is a threat to every Filipino.”

“Can you imagine a situation where the Vice President is accused of plotting against the President’s life, and then the President actually dies?” Andres said.

Authorities are currently investigating Duterte’s death threats against the President, alongside another investigation on her father’s call for military action to correct the country’s “fractured governance.”

Bordering on sedition

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, a former Supreme Court chief justice appointed to the post by the elder Duterte in 2018, condemned the former chief executive for his “selfish and brazen” motives in urging the military to take action against Marcos and call for his overthrow so that his daughter could take control of Malacañang.

“He will go to great and evil lengths, such as insulting our professional armed forces by asking them to betray their oath, for his plan to succeed,” Bersamin said in a statement on Tuesday.

Andres said the ex-president’s call was “bordering on sedition and is legally actionable.”

The DOJ official said the statements of the Vice President’s father would also be investigated alongside other similar declarations, including “people encouraging some form of demonstration.”

“We don’t know whether this is coming from the efforts of the former President or elsewhere, but again, we will need to examine every angle,” Andres said. “The threat issued by the Vice President [against Mr. Marcos] is something that should also be taken into consideration, whether it is really part of a larger plan for destabilization.”