DOJ assures due process in cases vs. VP Sara

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

“Vice President Duterte shall be given every opportunity to answer the allegations and to present her defense before the investigating prosecutors,” the DOJ said in a statement. (File Photo: Office of the Vice President of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said the preliminary investigation into the complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte is being conducted in full accordance with the law.

“Vice President Duterte shall be given every opportunity to answer the allegations and to present her defense before the investigating prosecutors,” the DOJ said in a statement.

“During this process, prosecutors shall carefully evaluate the evidence presented to determine whether prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction exists. The Department of Justice will ensure that the process will follow the normal course of law, and that accountability and the rule of law will prevail regardless of who the respondent may be.”

Duterte filed her counter-affidavit in the charges filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over her remark that she tapped an assassin to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if the supposed assassination plot against her were to succeed.

“Nag-file lang ang ating VP ng kanyang counter-affidavit laban doon sa complaint na inihain ng NBI. We will not discuss our defense, we do not want to preempt, out of due respect na rin para ma-appreciate na walang outside influence ng mga prosecutor (Our Vice President filed her counter-affidavit on the complaint filed by the NBI. We will not discuss our defense, we do not want to preempt, out of due respect also for the prosecutors to appreciate it without outside influence),” Michael Poa, one of the Vice President’s lawyers, told reporters.

“We expect due process, that’s the minimum. We can only expect due process,” he added.

The next hearing will be on May 16.