The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office has issued a subpoena directing former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to attend a probe and submit a counter-affidavit to the grave threats complaint filed by ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.
Based on the subpoena dated Oct. 27 but was released to the media on Nov. 15, Duterte is directed to appear before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Elliptical Road, Quezon City at 2:30 PM on December 4 and 11.
"The complainant/s and their witnesses, if any, are likewise directed to re-affirm before the undersigned on the same date the veracity and truthfulness of the allegations in their given statement," Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola stated.
BREAKING: Dating Pang. Rodrigo Duterte pinadalhan ng subpoena ng Quezon City Prosecutor's Office kasunod ng reklamo ni ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro | via RH 5 Val Gonzales @dzrh5
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 15, 2023
REPORT: https://t.co/hpF93zJ1a1 pic.twitter.com/4Rz0DyxS0U
Badiola noted that "no motion to dismiss shall be entertained" and "only counter-affidavits shall be admitted".
"Otherwise, respondent/s is/are deemed to have waived the right to present evidence," the Senior Assistant City Prosecutor said.
"Furthermore, no postponement shall be granted be granted unless for exceptionally meritorious grounds," Badiola added.
Meanwhile, the Makabayan solon welcomed the issued subpoena.
"I am glad that d case is progressing & I hope that former Pres. Duterte will face the charges and participate in the preliminary investigation," Castro said in a statement.
Statement ni Cong @FranceCastroACT sa inilabas na historic subpoena ni Senior Asst Prosec Ulric Badiola laban kay dating PRRD>
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) November 15, 2023
I am glad that d case is progressing & I hope that former Pres. Duterte will face the charges and participate in the preliminary investigation @dzrhnews
Last Oct. 24, Castro filed a grave threats case against Duterte before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.
She earlier said the former president must be held accountable for the "grave threat" he uttered during a televised interview aired last Oct. 11.
In the said televised interview, Duterte said: "“Pero ang unang target sa intelligence fund mo kayo! Ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin."
As of this posting, the former President has yet issued a statement regarding the matter.
