Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has thrown out the inciting to sedition complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, ruling that prosecutors found no solid ground to move the case forward.
According to a report, DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez confirmed the dismissal during an ambush interview. He explained that the panel of prosecutors reviewed the evidence and concluded there was simply not enough to justify filing charges.
Why the Case Was Dismissed
Martinez was direct about the panel’s findings. The prosecutors did not see a prima facie case — meaning the evidence on hand failed to meet the basic threshold needed to bring the matter to court.
“The sedition case, just to clarify, the panel of prosecutors did not find prima facie evidence. There is not enough evidence for us to file the case,” Martinez said.
The complaint was originally lodged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). It stemmed from the Vice President’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which triggered a broader look into possible criminal liability.
Two Cases, Two Separate Tracks
While the sedition complaint has been dropped, a separate grave threats case remains active. That case was filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and continues on its own path.
Martinez made a point of drawing a clear line between the different proceedings involving the Vice President:
- The inciting to sedition complaint — now dismissed by the DOJ
- The grave threats case — still pending at the Quezon City RTC
- The impeachment trial — ongoing before the Senate Impeachment Court
He stressed that these are distinct matters with different processes. In his view, the grave threats case should have no direct bearing on the impeachment trial, and one should not sway the outcome of the other.
What This Means for Filipinos Watching From Abroad
For overseas Filipino workers and expats keeping tabs on developments back home, the dismissal is another twist in a political saga that has drawn national attention. The Vice President still faces legal and political hurdles, but the sedition angle has now been closed by prosecutors.
The impeachment proceedings at the Senate remain the bigger fight to watch. With the grave threats case still alive in Quezon City, the legal questions surrounding VP Sara Duterte are far from settled.