DOJ to Dela Rosa, VP Duterte: No such thing as ‘conditional threat’

Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday clarified that there is no legal basis for a “conditional threat,” which is Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s description of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged kill order against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres, a threat remains a threat regardless of any condition attached to it as its essence lies in the intent to cause harm.

“There is no such thing as a conditional threat. A threat is a threat. If I say, “I’ll kill you if I don’t like your face,” it’s still a threat. ‘I’ll kill you whether I like it or not;’ a threat is a threat,” Andres explained in a Teleradyo interview.

Dela Rosa on Monday defended Duterte’s kill order against the President, arguing that her statement included a condition.

“There was a condition in what she said, right? If someone tries to kill her, she said she would have them killed too … basically, nothing will happen if she isn’t harmed,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview.

In an open letter on Monday, Duterte likewise defended her controversial statement, saying that her murder threat against Marcos had been “maliciously taken out of logical context.”

READ: Threat vs Marcos ‘maliciously taken out of context’ – VP Sara Duterte

Andres pointed out that Duterte’s pronouncement still constituted a threat, noting that Duterte had also declared initiating the threat’s execution by engaging the services of an assassin.

“Everything has been heard and can be listened to or watched again in the video. She said it in no uncertain terms, and when she finished speaking, she said, ‘Yes, it’s true, no joke.’ So it is really a threat to the President, where she has already begun executing the threat by engaging the services of an assassin,” he explained.

“The threat speaks for itself. If you watch it, she looked very serious. The words were very clear and there is no such thing as a conditional threat,” he added.

The DOJ undersecretary also emphasized that public officials must be accountable for their words and adhere to the code of conduct.

“Please, let us understand the situation. She is a sitting Vice President. She is the potential beneficiary of the death of the President,” Andres said.

“Public officials should be the first ones to serve as models, exemplary in following these rules. It’s just saddening that it has come to this,” he added.

READ: NBI: VP Duterte’s video threatening President Marcos ‘authentic’