Sara Duterte's 2024 video constitutes sedition, grave threat—NBI
The National Bureau of Investigation, on Wednesday, found Vice President Sara Duterte's video threat to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez constitutes inciting to sedition and grave threat.
On April 29, the concluding day of the House Committee on Justice hearing on the Saballa et al and Cabrera impeachment complaints against Duterte, NBI legal officer Atty. Yentl Malicad said the video contains "elements of the crime of inciting to sedition," as well as three counts of grave threat.
The video of Duterte, authenticated by NBI agent John Mark Calilung, was apparently streamed by Harry Roque in the early hours of Nov. 23, 2024.
Following the ordered transfer of Duterte's chief of staff Zuleika Lopez from the House detention facility to the Women's Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong City on Nov. 22, 2024, Duterte called an online press briefing.
In response to a vlogger's question about criminality, Duterte said, "P***** I** ninyong lahat, Martin Romualdez, Liza Marcos, Bongbong Marcos. 'Wag kang mag-alala, Ma'am, sa security ko. Kasi may kinausap na 'ko na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke. Nagbilin na ako, Ma'am. 'Pag namatay ako, sabi ko 'wag kang tumugil, ha, hanggang hindi mo mapatay sila. And then he said yes."
"Base po sa ebidensya na nakalap ng NBI at naisubmit sa Department of Justice for the purpose of preliminary investigation, ang naging findings ng NBI, the acts of the vice president constitutes grave threats," said Malicad.
"The thing speaks for itself...There's no room for interpretation. Hindi mo na kailangan ipaliwanag... That is an actual threat to the president, and to the wife, and the former speaker," said NBI Director Atty. Melvin A. Matibag.
As to the video constituting sedition, Malicad explained there are three elements to the crime of inciting to sedition: "The offender does not take direct part in the crime of sedition; the offender uttered seditious words; the utterance of seditious words is done by means of speeches, which lead or tend to stir up the people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the government."
Malicad based this on the Affidavit of Investigation submitted by the NBI to the Committee on Justice on April 14.
"The complaint referred by the NBI, which includes inciting to sedition, contains all the necessary evidence to prove the essential elements of the crime and should be docketed for preliminary investigation," said Malicad.
Following numerous questions and manifestations by the members of the committee, the 53-member House panel unanimously declared probable cause in two impeachment complaints raised against Duterte this year. The declaration now clears the way for the complaints to be endorsed to the House plenary, which may then lead to a Senate impeachment trial.
Aside from the grave threats to the first family, Duterte is also alleged to have misused P612.5 million in confidential funds, and submitted false SALN declarations.
