France Castro, deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives, said the former president must be held accountable now that he no longer enjoys immunity from lawsuits as a private citizen.
The 78-year-old ex-president was known for his fiery, often expletive-ridden remarks when he ran the country for six years until mid-2022. Duterte has yet to issue an official statement and his aides have not immediately responded to requests for comment. Grave threat is punishable by up to six months in jail.
The complaint filed by Castro cited Duterte’s interview with SMNI, a broadcasting company owned by Philippine television evangelist Apollo Quiboloy who’s a known Duterte supporter.
In the interview which aired on October 11, Duterte mentioned Castro’s name as he railed against “communists” he “wanted to kill”.
Critic or communist rebel? In Duterte’s Philippines, there’s no difference
Critic or communist rebel? In Duterte’s Philippines, there’s no difference
“Respondent Duterte’s grave threats, and the fact of their continued spread even until today, present dangers to my life, liberty, and security,” Castro said in her complaint filed with the prosecutor’s office in Quezon City.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a Duterte ally, defended the former president, saying days after the interview aired that the latter “didn’t actually mean murder” and that it was a “figure of speech.”
Duterte leaves brutal legacy in term marked by drug war, US-China policy U-turns
Duterte leaves brutal legacy in term marked by drug war, US-China policy U-turns
More than 6,000 were killed in the anti-narcotics campaign, based on government data, but human rights groups estimate a higher death toll, mostly among the poor.
The former leader “would never allow foreigners to sit in judgment of him as long as Philippine courts are willing and able to do so,” his former spokesman Harry Roque said then on Duterte’s behalf in response to the ICC’s decision.
