Former president Rodrigo Duterte did not show up in the preliminary investigation on the grave threats complaint filed against him, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
Interviewed during DZRH Damdaming Bayan, Castro said only the two legal counsels of Duterte showed up before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City.
"Sinasabi doon na walang natanggap ang dating Pangulong Duterte na subpoena at complaint affidavit ko na pinasa sa QC Prosecutors Office. Napadala naman daw ang subpoena at yung complaint affidavit ko noong time na 'yon. Pero ang sinasabi nila [legal counsels], hindi raw nila natanggap. Hindi raw natanggap si ex-Pres Duterte," she said.
Rep. France Castro, ACT-Teachers Partylist sa hindi pagsipot ni ex-Pres Duterte: Ang dumating lang sa bahagi ni ex-President Rodrigo Duterte ay ang dalawang abogado niya.#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 5, 2023
LIVE: https://t.co/5bXqKZqZw5 pic.twitter.com/cvxikElH6q
The House solon said the preliminary investigation has been reset to Dec. 15, wherein the former President's legal counsels are expected to submit the counter affidavit.
"Pwede naman ang kanyang abogado kung hindi siya sisipot. Kaya lang, sana ipakita niya rin ang tapang niya rito na harapin niya ang kanyang kaso," Castro pointed out.
She reiterated that casting a threat on someone's life is not a joke.
"Kung nagagawa niya noong Presidente pa siya at nagagawa on national TV. Ngayon ay 'di na siya presidente at wala na siyang immunity. So yung mga pinagbantaan nya noon, sinabihan ng misogynist statements, hindi na pwede ngayon kasi kailangan na talaga ng rule of law. Siyempre sa justice system natin kasi hindi pwedeng basta gagawin ito," the House solon added.
According to RH Val Gonzales' report, supporters of Duterte marched in front of the QC Hall of Justice to show support for the latter.
Wearing white and green shirts, the supporters cheered "Duterte!" while holding a white banner.
Supporters ni FPRRD at militanteng grupo sumugod sa QC Hall of Justice dahil sa preliminary investigation sa reklamong grave threat na inihain laban sa dating pangulo | via RH 5 Val Gonzales @dzrh5 #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/eMBhbZeK8N
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 4, 2023
On Oct. 24, Castro filed a grave threats case against Duterte before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.
She earlier said that the former president must be held accountable for the "grave threat" he uttered during a televised interview aired on Oct. 11.
Last Nov. 15, the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office summoned Duterte.
