By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said Vice President Sara Duterte may be liable under the Anti-Terror Act (ATA) following her statement that she has contracted an assassin to target President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, as well as House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Mayroon po tayong batas na ATA. Tingnan niyo po ang Sec. 4 describing the acts of terrorism, and one of the acts defined there is where one intends to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person or endangers that person’s life. ’Yon po ay nakasaad sa ating batas na ’pag kayo ay gumawa ng hakbang upang saktan, magbanta ng buhay ng ibang tao, kasama po yan sa terrorism lalo na po pag ang purpose nyan ay to intimidate and sow fear,” Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said in a press briefing.
He also pointed out that a threat to President Marcos is national security matter.
“Can you imagine a situation where the vice president is accused of plotting against the life of the president and then the president dies? Even the people, can they accept the vice president to succeed if she ascends under a cloud of doubt to the seat of power? Napakaseryoso po yan at nakakatakot po yang scenario na yan na mangyari sa pagbabanta sa ating Pangulo,” he said.
“The work of the President will be impeded by this serious death threat. That is why it has to be addressed immediately. It has to be quelled at its inception.”
He added that such a scenario should not be allowed because President Marcos is elected by the people and represents every Filipino.
“A threat to the President is a threat to every Filipino. Hindi po maari ’yan. Gagawin po ng gobyerno ang lahat para protektahan po ang ang isang halal na pinuno,” Andres said.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla assured the public that the DOJ “will never back down against insurgency or any form of lawlessness and will forever remain committed to protecting not only the Chief Executive, but the entire Filipino nation as well.”
Following the Vice President’s online rant on Nov. 23, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said on Sunday that all threats to the life of President Marcos will be thoroughly investigated and “deemed a matter of national security.”
Lawmakers, led by the House Speaker, described Duterte’s statement as criminal, destabilizing and a direct threat to democracy.
On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation formally asked Duterte to give her side to investigators by Friday in connection with her statement.