Palace: Sara Duterte case extends beyond grave threats to national security

The Presidential Palace on Wednesday maintained that the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte go beyond an ordinary grave threats case, arguing that the issue concerns national security because the alleged targets were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. At a Palace briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro rejected the defense's argument that Duterte's controversial remarks during a November 2024 livestream were merely responses to questions and did not constitute threats. "Kung ito ay hindi threats, ano pa ba ang maaari nating i-define sa salitang threats? So, ang ganitong klase na pagresponde ay normal at dapat na i-justify at i-tolerate?" Castro said. (If these are not threats, then what else can we define as threats? Is this kind of response normal and something that should be justified and tolerated?) Castro said the complaint should not be treated as an ordinary grave threats case because of the positions held by those allegedly targeted. "Hindi ito simpleng grave threats na maaaring isampa diyan sa korte. Hindi involved dito ang simpleng tao. Ang pinag-uusapan po natin dito ay Pangulo. Ito ay isyu about national security." (This is not a simple grave threats case that can merely be filed in court. This does not involve an ordinary person. What we are talking about here is the President. This is an issue of national security.) She also disputed the defense's argument that Duterte's remarks were not directed at the President, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker because they were not present during the livestream. "Hindi ito lihim; lahat ng tao halos nakapanood, hindi lang sa Pilipinas kung hindi sa buong mundo." (This was not a secret. Almost everyone watched it—not only in the Philippines but around the world.) Castro further said that under the law on grave threats, the offense is consummated once the threatened party becomes aware of the threat. "Ang grave threats, alam ng bawat Pilipino ay nako-consummate kapag iyong taong binanatan ay nalaman ito… Hindi ito simpleng grave threats. Ito ay mayroong kaugnayan sa national security ng ating bansa." (Every Filipino knows that grave threats are consummated once the person being threatened becomes aware of it... This is not a simple grave threats case. It is related to our country's national security.) Castro also noted that Duterte's camp has not denied that the Vice President made the statements, but has instead sought to justify them. GMA News Online has reached out to the Duterte's camp and will update this story once a response is received. According to Castro, the defense now bears the burden of proving its justification for Duterte's remarks, including its claim that the statements stemmed from the alleged treatment of former undersecretary Zuleika Lopez by the House of Representatives. "Ang burden of evidence ay nagshi-shift sa tao na umamin na siya ay magpapapatay," Castro said. (The burden of evidence shifts to the person who admitted that she would have someone killed.) She added that the prosecution need not present additional evidence because, according to her, Duterte had already admitted making the statements. "Dapat sila ang magpatunay ng justifiable reasons nila kung bakit nila ito ginawa at sinabi," Castro said. (They should prove their justifiable reasons for why she did and said those things.) — MCG, GMA News