AN official from the Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte is not being designated as a terrorist, following her recent kill order against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In a media interview, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres emphasized, “She is not being designated as a terrorist. We’re not doing something like that to the vice president. She shouldn’t preempt the government. It was her act of intimidation that she is being held accountable for.”
This statement came two days after Duterte was served a subpoena to provide clarification on remarks she made in a viral video, where she issued a threat.
The subpoena pertains to an investigation for allegedly committing Grave Threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as potential violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479).
Andres explained that the subpoena was issued to allow Duterte to explain her comments and the actions that followed.
“The threat was not just in the mind because she already started to act on it,” he said, referring to Section 4 of the anti-terror law, which punishes acts intended to cause death, serious injury, or endanger a person’s life.
Duterte had claimed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe into her remarks was a tactic to gain access to her properties and assets.
“I find the violation of the anti-terrorism law funny since they’re trying to access my properties and assets,” she said.
However, Andres pointed out that the case of former Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was different, as he was accused of being the mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel DeGamo and was linked to numerous alleged extrajudicial killings in the province.
In 2023, Teves and 12 others were designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing his role in several killings and harassment activities.
Duterte, in defense of her earlier comments, argued that her statement about having Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated was “maliciously taken out of context.”
She asserted that she was merely highlighting a perceived threat to her security, claiming, “I believe we reached the point of no return… They want to remove me from my post.”
Despite the ongoing investigation, both the DOJ and NBI have assured that due process will be followed.