NBI complaint a chance for VP Sara Duterte to clear name —DOJ spox

The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is a chance for her to clear her name, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said Thursday.

Clavano said this when asked if the Department of Justice (DOJ) expects Duterte to appear should the complaint proceed to a preliminary investigation.  

“Karapatan ho niya 'yan na mag submit ng kanyang counter affidavit, ng kanyang mga depensa. So we're hoping na gamitin din niya. Or she will take the chance, the opportunity, to clear her name na din," he said in an ambush interview.

(It’s her right to submit her counter-affidavit, her defense. So we’re hoping that she will use it. Or she will take the chance, the opportunity, to clear her name.)

On Wednesday, the NBI recommended the filing of a complaint for inciting to sedition and grave threat against Duterte.

This is over her remark that she ordered someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot against her succeeds.

Clavano said prosecutors are still evaluating whether the complaint will be returned to the NBI for further case build-up or if it will be submitted for preliminary investigation.

“We are going to have to evaluate it and make sure na makita ho natin lahat ng ebidensya na sinubmit ng NBI,” he said.

(We are going to have to evaluate it to make sure that we see all evidence submitted by the NBI.)

According to the spokesman, prosecutors seek prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction. He said they would also check if the records were complete or if errors were present. 

Clavano said the result of the evaluation may be released “in a few days.”  

“Hindi naman usually nagtatagal ‘yung evaluation stage so we will know in a few days kung ire-recommend nila for preliminary investigation or further case build-up,” Clavano said.

(The evaluation stage doesn’t really last long, so we will know in a few days if this will be recommended for preliminary investigation or further case build-up.)

For her part, Duterte later on clarified that her “assassination” statement was not a threat, saying she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security.

She also said her remarks were “maliciously taken out of logical context.” —LDF, GMA Integrated News