MANILA, Philippines — Investigators in the Philippines have filed criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte, including allegations of sedition, due to her controversial statements suggesting she would order the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if she were killed first amidst escalating political tensions.
Jaime Santiago, the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation, announced during a press briefing that these charges of inciting sedition and issuing grave threats have been submitted to the Department of Justice. The agency will determine whether to dismiss the allegations or move forward with legal proceedings in court.
In response to the filing, Sara Duterte, who is an attorney and the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, expressed that she anticipated such actions from the NBI. She accused her political opponents of attempting to undermine her ambitions to run for the presidency when Marcos Jr.’s term concludes in 2028.
Her father, Rodrigo Duterte, who completed his presidency in 2022, is currently facing legal scrutiny. The International Criminal Court is investigating the extensive killings that occurred during his administration’s severe anti-drug campaign, which could potentially be classified as a crime against humanity.
Sara Duterte served as Marcos’ running mate during the 2022 elections, but their political alliance has soured significantly, resulting in a confrontational relationship within a country historically affected by feuding political factions.
Recently, the vice president faced impeachment in the House of Representatives over multiple accusations, including her alleged threat to kill Marcos, his spouse, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she was attacked. This threat was mentioned during an online news conference last November.
The impeachment petition, which garnered support from a majority of the over 300 House members linked to Marcos’ political camp, also cites serious allegations of corruption and misuse of confidential funds from her office. The 24-member Senate is expected to review the impeachment complaint once Congress reconvenes in June.
While the vice president has denied that her comments constituted a direct threat, her statements ignited significant concerns regarding national security, prompting investigations, including those by the NBI.
Last week, during a news conference, Duterte indicated that her legal team was preparing for an impending impeachment battle but did not clarify whether resignation was a potential move to avoid a conviction, which would impede her chances of running for president in the future.
