Legislator Appeals to DOJ for Reevaluation of Quezon City Court’s Dismissal of Threats Case Against Duterte
QUEZON CITY – A significant appeal has been lodged with the Department of Justice (DOJ) by ACT Party-list Representative and Deputy Minority Leader France Castro, requesting a thorough review of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office’s recent decision. This appeal concerns the dismissal of a grave threats complaint filed against former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, highlighting a contentious legal battle that has sparked debates on the handling of threats and the protection of public discourse.
According to Philippines News Agency, the prosecutor’s office last month rejected the grave threats complaint, a decision she argues not only undermines efforts to combat online threats but also contributes to the normalization of violent rhetoric. Castro’s challenge to the ruling emphasizes concerns over the legal system’s capacity to address threats made by individuals in positions of power and its implications for public trust and the right to dissent.
The crux of Castro’s appeal lies in her contention that the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office exhibited a grave abuse of discretion by discounting the evidentiary value of her sworn statement. She detailed in her complaint how she personally watched, downloaded, and saved video footage showing Duterte making threatening remarks. Moreover, Castro disputes the prosecutor’s criticism of her failure to provide an authenticated copy of the online publication of the alleged threat, arguing that existing rules do not mandate such authentication or certification from social media platforms or television networks.
The prosecutors, in their 14-page resolution from January, dismissed the significance of Duterte’s statements made during his television program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” which was broadcasted by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) last October. The resolution, endorsed by Senior Assistant City Prosecutors Ulric Q. Badiola, Rosanna Morales Montojo, and Deputy City Prosecutor Leilia R. Llanes, also noted Castro’s inability to secure the necessary authentication from social media platforms and SMNI for the alleged threats.
By highlighting the procedural challenges in authenticating online content, the resolution underscores the complexities of prosecuting cases involving digital communications. The DOJ’s response to Castro’s appeal will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how similar complaints are addressed in the future, impacting the broader discussion on freedom of speech, the role of social media in public discourse, and the accountability of public officials.