MANILA – The Department of Justice are looking for a certainty of conviction in assessing the grave threats and inciting to sedition complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
According to Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres, the DOJ is currently evaluating the charges recommended by the NBI to see if there is enough prima facie evidence in the crime.
“Evidence-based prosecution, hindi ‘yung trial saka lang naghahanap ng ebidensya at testigo dahil paglabag ‘yan sa rights ng akusado,” Andres said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
“Tapos na po ang panahon na the law is being weaponized. Hindi na natin pinapayagan ‘yan. We are treating this case like a normal case. No one is above the law…Only one set of rules applies to all,” he added.
The NBI earlier recommended the filing of charges against Duterte-Carpio after she said she had arranged for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to be killed should she be assassinated.
Once a subpoena is issued, Duterte-Carpio will be given every chance to respond and answer the charges, Andres said.
He also noted the criminal case can still continue even though Duterte-Carpio cannot be removed from office except through impeachment./PN
