VP Sara Duterte wrong to say DOJ is ‘biased’ – exec

FILE PHOTO: Department of Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres answers questions from the media in a press conference at the Department of Justice in Manila City on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. – Andres said on Thursday, December 12, 2024, that it is not right for Vice President Sara Duterte to say that the DOJ is partial as it probes into the alleged threat she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — It is not right for Vice President Sara Duterte to say that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is partial as it probes into the alleged threat she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres asserted that the agency is just doing its job to investigate and prosecute crimes, regardless of the individuals involved – even if they are high-ranking government officials.

“Hindi tama na sabihin na bias ang Department of Justice. Ang Department of Justice ay makikinig sa panig ng ating vice president at sa lahat ng posibleng ebidensya na ihain at pati ng iba pang testigo,” Andres said in a Teleradyo interview Thursday.

(It is wrong to say that the Department of Justice is biased. The Department of Justice will listen to the side of our vice president and consider all possible evidence presented, including testimonies from other witnesses.)

READ: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace

“Bibigyan siya ng full opportunity to be heard bago kami magkaroon ng evaluation at decision kung magfa-file man ng kaso,” he added.

(She will be given the full opportunity to be heard before we evaluate the case and decide whether to file charges.)

The DOJ undersecretary also emphasized that the subpoena issued on Duterte would allow her to explain her side regarding her pronouncement that she hired someone to kill the president, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is killed. Andres pointed out that such issuance ensures that due process is being followed.

Duterte previously accused the DOJ of being biased in its probe into her alleged kill order against Marcos, his wife, and his cousin.

“I don’t think na patas ang imbestigasyong ito. Makikita natin na the pronouncement of the President, may bias na doon,” Duterte said in a press conference on Wednesday.

(I don’t think this investigation is fair. We can see that the President’s pronouncement is biased.)

“Kung nakita ninyo rin ‘yung interview ng isang Usec ng Department of Justice, sinabi niya na, ‘A threat is a threat’. Doon pa lang sinabi niya kung ano ‘yung position niya. Kahit pa sabihin nila na may investigation, sa simula pa lang, may decision na sila na mag-file ng cases,” she added.

(During an interview, an undersecretary from the Department of Justice said, “A threat is a threat.” This alone indicates their stance on the matter. Even though they claim to be conducting an investigation, it seems they had already decided to file charges from the very beginning.)

Duterte’s office received the subpoena, but the vice president did not personally appear at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), an attached agency of the DOJ, on Wednesday, December 11. She instead submitted a letter denying the allegations against her.

“At the end of the day, ‘yung proseso ng batas, kagaya ng pag-issue ng subpoena, bibigyan kayo ng pagkakataon ng magpaliwanag At iharap ang mga testigo ninyo, maaari kayong assisted by counsel during the investigation,” Andres said.

(Ultimately, the legal process, such as the issuance of a subpoena, will grant you the opportunity to present your explanation and present your witnesses. You may also be assisted by counsel during the investigation.)

“Lahat po ‘yan ay binibigay ng ating National Bureau of Investigation. Kaya it’s very unfortunate that hindi po dadalo ang ating bise presidente,” he added.

(All of these are provided by our National Bureau of Investigation. Unfortunately, our Vice President will not be attending.)

In the same radio interview, Andres likewise said that President Marcos is not interfering with the DOJ investigation, asserting the independence of the agency despite being under the executive department.

“Unang-una po, ang ating Pangulo wala pong dinidikta sa amin at wala pong dinidikta ang kahit sino man,” Andres said.

(First and foremost, the President is not dictating on us or anyone else.)

READ: NBI admits to start from scratch on probing threat vs VP Sara Duterte

“Sa katunayan ang sabi ng ating pangulo, hindi siya sang-ayon sa impeachment dahil sayang lang ang panahon kung ating gugugulin sa impeachment,” he added.

(In fact, our President has stated that they do not support the impeachment because it would be a waste of time.)

Andres stressed, however, that the President’s point of view does not affect the DOJ’s mandate as the country’s prosecutorial and investigating arm.

“’Pag meron ganyang sitwasyon at hindi kumilos ang ating prosecutorial arm at investigative arm, ang ating law enforcement agents, kasalanan po namin sa publiko ‘yan. Because ang isang crime ay laging nakatuon sa concern sa public security,” he explained.

(If we find ourselves in a situation where our prosecutorial, investigative, and law enforcement agencies fail to act, then we are accountable to the public. This is because any crime is fundamentally a matter of public security.)

“Every crime is not just a concern of the private offended party, every crime disturbs the peace. [Because] a criminal offense is a crime against society, that’s why we have to do something,” he also said.