Vice President Sara Duterte shows up at the DOJ to file her counter affidavit over the BBM kill-remark case 

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte showed up at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday (May 9) and asked for the dismissal of the complaint filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over the kill-remark she made about President Marcos Jr. 

Duterte attended the preliminary investigation on the cases filed against her, including inciting to sedition and grave threats.

“I categorically deny the charges against me. Being accused of a criminal offense, I am constitutionally presumed innocent in these proceedings and need not dignify the complaint with a reply when no evidence has been shown to prove it,” Duterte said in her reply. 

Her lawyer Paul Lim said the vice president showed up to prove why charges against her should be junked. 

“Ang kauna-unahang araw ng preliminary investigation, siya ay nagpakita at nagbigay ng kanyang counter-affidavit na naglalahad na nga nung kanyang mga dahilan kung bakit hindi dapat ipagpatuloy at ibasura na lamang ang mga paratang, mga reklamo laban sa kanya,” her lawyer Paul Lim said in an ambush interview. 

Meanwhile, Duterte’s former spokesperson and still one of her lawyers Michael Poa declined to give further details. 

“We will not discuss muna ‘yung aming defenses. We don’t want to preempt and out of respect na rin. Para po ma appreciate ng walang outside influences ng mga prosecutors natin,” Poa said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said due process will be accorded to the vice president. 

When asked what the vice president can expect from the DOJ, Remulla said “due process.” 

“No problem with due process… we respect the office. Alam mo naman, that’s the most important,” he said. 

In November 2024, the vice president publicly said through an online press briefing that she contracted an assassin to have the president, the first lady and the House speaker killed should she get killed first. 

Despite her pronouncement, Duterte had repeatedly denied ever having threatened the administration and that it was only to highlight the supposed threat to her security. 

She also has repeatedly snubbed NBI invitation last year because she believes the institution “will not be fair” and “expects no impartiality” in its investigation since it is under the Marcos government. 

This was denied by NBI Director Jaime Santiago who likewise said that they remain independent in performing their duties. 

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