Ex-Pres. Duterte faces inciting to sedition complaint

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former President Rodrigo Duterte is facing an inciting to sedition complaint after he threatened the lives of senators.

Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director PMGen Nicolas Torre III filed the complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, Feb. 17.

The case includes violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act for unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.

The complaint stemmed from Duterte’s remark during PDP’s proclamation rally on Feb. 13, in which he said 15 senators should be killed to make way for the candidates he supports. He did not name names.

“The CIDG urges the public to respect the legal process and avoid speculation that may mislead or create unnecessary division,” the police group said.

“The CIDG assures transparency and impartiality in handling this complaint, we are committed to upholding the rule of law,” it added.

House lawmakers urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the former president’s remark.

READ: Duterte killing obsession possible personality disorder - Pimentel

Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, earlier issued a kill remark, but to the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The DOJ has been reviewing the NBI’s recommendation to file inciting to sedition and grave threat charges against the vice president.