QC prosecutors clear VP Duterte of assault, coercion raps
Vice President Sara Duterte FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Prosecutors Office has dismissed direct assault and grave coercion case filed by a police officer against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte, together with her security aide Col. Raymund Dante Petina Lachina were slapped with a complaint for violating Articles 148 (Direct Assault), 151 (Disobedience to Authority), and 286 (Grave Coercion) under the Revised Penal Code by Police Lieutenant Col. (Dr.) Van Jason Conag Villamor.
Villamor filed the complaint alleging that he was assaulted at the height of the commotion to transfer Atty. Zuleika Lopez from the Veterans Memorial Medial Center (VMMC) to St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City last November, 2024.
Lopez, chief of staff of the Vice President, suffered a panic attack after she was cited in contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability in connection with the use of funds of the Office of the Vice President.
READ: VP Sara on delay in Lopez hospital transfer: Police are ‘dishonest’
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rommel Marbil supported the filing of the complaint as proof that the police is not afraid of anyone.
READ: Marbil on filing raps vs Sara Duterte: People must not say PNP is afraid
However, in dismissing the complaint, the Quezon City Prosecutor said the complaint is not supported by evidence.
“Interestingly, not one of the witnsses of PLtCol. Villamor corroborated his claims regarding the purported attack, employment of physical force, intimidation, resistance, disobedience, violence and threats,” read the resolution.
“They did not narrate the encounter between the parties in their respective affidavits. They also did not discuss the behaviour of PLtCol Villamor after the incident, which could have persuaded us that he was threatened and intimidated, if at all,” the resolution further stated.
“Being so, we are constrained to dismiss the complaint for insufficiency of evidence,” it added.
