Win Gatchalian: VP Sara threats claim should be taken seriously

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday urged authorities to take Vice President Sara Duterte’s claims of threats and harassment seriously, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.

"Dapat kung meron man banta, kung meron nararamdaman o nakikita ang Bise Presidente na banta sa kanyang buhay at pamilya, dapat seyosohin ito," Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.

(If the Vice President feels or sees any threat to her life or her family, it should be taken seriously.)

"Nanawagan din ako sa ating kapulisan na on their own dapat imbestigahan kung saan nangagaling itong banta dahil hindi maganda ito," he added.

(I also call on the police to conduct their own investigation into where these threats are coming from because this is not a good thing.)

Gatchalian explained that everyone's safety is important, whether a person is a senior public official or an ordinary Filipino.

"Ikaw man ay Bise Presidente o ordinaryong mamayanan, dapt protektahan ang ating pamahalaan sa ganyang banta at hindi magagadang pwede mangyari sa kanilang pamilya," Gatchalian said.

(Whether you are the Vice President or an ordinary citizen, the government should protect you from such threats and any harm that may befall your family.)

On Saturday, Duterte posted bail at a Quezon City court, a day after the issuance of an arrest warrant against her in relation to a grave threats case.

In a statement, the Vice President said she does not feel safe.

"I have documented threats and harassment since 2023. I fear for my children. I do not feel they are safe if I am with them," Duterte said.

"Umalis na nga ako kung nasaan mga anak ko para pumunta sa korte pero pumunta pa rin ang pulis," she added.

(I already left where my children were to go to court, but the police still went there.)

She further said, "I do not feel safe. Pakiramdam ko papatayin nila ako (I feel like they're going to kill me)."

In a separate dzBB interview, Lanao del Sur Rep Zia Alonto Adiong, House Trial spokesperson, also said Duterte's threat claims should be investigated

"Kailangan 'yung mga nasasabi niya na mga fear for her life, 'yung mga threat na natatanggap niya in 2023. Talagang absolutely, kailangan imbestigahan 'yan. Kapag inimbestigahan ito, dapat may basehan," Adiong said.

(All the things she said about fearing for her life and the threats she received in 2023 absolutely needs to be investigated. If it is going to be investigated, there should be a basis. )

However, Adiong expressed reservations on Duterte's claims, saying that it does not match with her requests for travel authority and her alleged threats to others.

"Itong mga ganitong (these kinds of) fear for her life na narratives, it does not sit perfectly well as an indication of someone who is being threatened by the actions that we saw during last year," Adiong said.

"Kung seryoso talaga, dapat hindi siya nagre-request ng mga travel authority. It's not an indication of someone who fears for her life tapos requesting for travel around many countries. Hindi 'yun ang nakikita natin for someone who prioritize foreign trips over her own personal security," he added.

(If she were really serious about fearing for her life, she should not be requesting travel authority. It's not an indication of someone who fears for her life and yet requests to travel to many countries. That is not what we would expect from someone who prioritizes foreign trips over her own personal security.)

For Adiong, Duterte's claim of threats is more her "distrust" against Philippine authorities than fear for her personal safety.

"Hindi lang sa mga pulis at korte [walang tiwala si VP Duterte], in fact initially, wala siyang tiwala sa kanyang mga abogado," Adiong said, referring to when Duterte refused to enter the elevator at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court - Branch 98.

Duterte took the stairs to and from the QC RTC-Branch 98 inside the Hall of Justice, saying she wanted to be seen by the media amid her security concerns.

Case won’t affect impeachment

For Gatchalian, Duterte's grave threats case will not affect the ongoing impeachment trial against her.

"Personal opinion ko ito. Walang effect sa akin at sa impeacement dahil iba naman kasi yung sa korte at yung sa imeachment. Na determine ng korte na may probable cause pero di naman ibig sabihin guilty ang hatol na," Gatchalian said in a dzBB Super Radyo interview.

(In my opinion, it will have no effect on me or on the impeachment because the court case and the impeachment are separate. The court may have determined that there is probable cause, but that does not mean the accused is already guilty.)

"Ganun din sa impeachment court. Magkakaroon ng presentation of the defense. Titingnan natin kung ano ‘yung magiging depensa at dun tayo magkakaroon ng decision," he added.

(The same goes for the impeachment court. The defense will present their pieces of evidence. We will assess them and then reach a decision.) —RF, GMA News