The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines has formally filed criminal charges with the Department of Justice, accusing Vice President Sara Duterte of "incitement to rebellion and grave threats."
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago stated at a press conference that the NBI has submitted the charges to the Department of Justice, confirming, "We have raised charges of incitement to rebellion and serious threats."
Prosecutor General Richard D. Fadullon indicated that the charges would undergo further assessment to verify if the evidence is complete. He noted, "Only when the evidence is complete will the case be formally submitted for preliminary investigation."
Under Philippine law, incitement to rebellion is defined as "any person who publicly and tumultuously incites others, intending to achieve destructive social, economic, or political purposes through force, intimidation, or other unlawful means, usually leading to public disorder."
Incitement to sedition, on the other hand, refers to "a person who, without directly participating in a rebellion, incites others to engage in acts constituting rebellion through speeches, declarations, articles, banners, cartoons, banners, or other forms, or publishes incendiary statements, or disseminates content defaming the government or lawful authorities."
Moreover, according to Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, grave threats are considered a serious crime involving "acts threatening another's life, reputation, or property."
NBI Director Santiago stated that according to standard procedures, "all prosecutions proposed by law enforcement agencies must be submitted to the prosecutor's office for review."
The charges stem from statements made by Vice President Sara during an online press conference last November. At that time, Sara claimed she had instructed someone to kill the president, the first lady, and the speaker of the house should anything happen to her.
Santiago revealed that before filing the charges, the NBI had summoned Vice President Sara twice to explain her case, but she refused to attend. He expressed his frustration, saying, "But all our efforts ultimately proved futile."
Furthermore, according to Xinhua News Agency in Manila, after the NBI filed criminal charges, Vice President Sara subsequently issued a brief response, stating she had "long anticipated" this.
Previously impeached by the House of Representatives, Sara now faces criminal charges from the NBI, finding herself besieged by legal challenges.
