QC prosecutors junk assault, disobedience raps vs. VP Sara

Quezon City prosecutors have dismissed the complaint for direct assault, disobedience, and grave coercion filed against Vice President Sara Duterte and others in November 2024.

In a 13-page resolution, the QC Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) recommended the dismissal of the complaint against Duterte, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) head Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, and others for failure to sustain a finding of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.

“The alleged commission of Direct Assault, Disobedience to Authority and Grave Coercion is not supported by evidence,” it said.

This stemmed from the disruption at the House of Representatives Detention Center and Veterans Memorial Medical Center following the detention of Duterte’s chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez in November 2024.

In a video, Lachica was seen physically moving Dr. Van Jason Villamor of the PNP Health Service.

According to the OCP, however, Duterte and Lachica did not attack, employ material force, seriously intimidate or seriously resist Villamor.

“The acts of placing a hand over the chest, pushing, and shoving do not constitute an attack of physical force. To be considered as direct assault, the laying of hands or the use of physical force must be serious,” it said.

“The force exerted must be more severe than just slapping and punching. This is not the case here,” it added.

Aside from this, the OCP said Duterte and Lachica telling the police to back off does not amount to serious intimidation or serious resistance.

The OCP said Duterte also did not use her position to threaten Villamor.

Aside from this, the OCP said Villamor failed to establish that he was engaged in the actual performance of his official duties at the time of the incident.

It said bringing a detainee from the House of Representatives to the hospital is beyond the official functions of Villamor.

“As correctly pointed out by VP Duterte-Carpio and Col. Lachica, there is no scintilla of proof of his authority to implement any order from the HOR. He is not connected with the HOR and he failed to present proof that he was deputized to implement any HOR Order,” it said.

Due to this, the OCP said it can deem that Villamor exceeded his powers.

Meanwhile, the OCP said Duterte raising her voice at Villamor was rather justified as he was “unrelenting despite his previous display of aggression by attempting to slam the ambulance door on her.”

It said Duterte’s reaction was a “spontaneous and legitimate outburst triggered by his provocation.”

GMA News Online has sought comment from the PNP but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News