DOJ: No move to designate Sara Duterte as terrorist

An official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) stated on Thursday that there has been no move to designate Vice President Sara Duterte as a terrorist despite her issuing a kill order against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres clarified during an interview that Duterte was not being designated as a terrorist and emphasized that she will be held accountable for her act of intimidation, which the NBI is currently investigating for possible acts of inciting to sedition, grave threats, and violation of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law.

Duterte was served with a subpoena two days prior to shed light on the investigation for alleged grave threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code and possible violations of RA 11479.

Andres explained that the subpoena aims to give Duterte an opportunity to explain her remarks in a viral video where she issued a threat, which he considers as not just a mental thought but an action already taken, and noted that they are looking at Section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law which defines acts of terrorism.

The DOJ official pointed out that Section 4 of the anti-terrorism law defines acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury as punishable under the law, and dismissed Duterte's claim that the probe is aimed at accessing her properties and assets.