The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it is considering filing criminal charges against Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte over his remarks calling for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ouster, as the agency investigates alleged threats against the President.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag told senator judges on Wednesday that Duterte’s statements may eventually lead to possible charges of grave threat and inciting to sedition if investigators determine that the elements of the offenses are present.
The statement came after Senator Judge Panfilo Lacson questioned why the NBI investigated Vice President Sara Duterte over similar remarks but has not separately investigated her younger brother.
Lacson cited statements made by the Duterte siblings, including Mayor Duterte’s remarks during a rally in Cebu in May.
“Isang ulo lang ang gusto namin, ‘yung ulo ni Bongbong Marcos,” Mayor Duterte said during the gathering.
The senator also cited the Vice President’s previous statements in 2024, including her remark that she wanted to behead the President and her later statement threatening to have Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she were assassinated.
The NBI has already filed complaints before the Department of Justice against Vice President Duterte for grave threat and inciting to sedition over her statements.
Matibag said Mayor Duterte’s remarks are already included in the broader investigation being conducted by an NBI special task force created in April to examine continuing threats against President Marcos.
“Yun pong ginagawa naming imbestigasyon ay ito na po ‘yung threat na sinasabi naming pangmalawakan. Dito po kay Mayor Baste, kaya ‘di po namin inimbestigahan ay sinasama na po namin sa task force na ito,” Matibag said.
He said the task force is also examining a possible conspiracy behind the alleged threats, which could take longer to establish due to the higher burden of proving such a case in court.
“Sapagkat ang isang dine-develop po namin dito na theory ay ‘yung sabwatan,” Matibag said.
He added that proving conspiracy in court is more difficult, which is why investigators are taking additional time to build the case.
Matibag also told Lacson that the agency’s investigation into a possible conspiracy involving threats against the President remains ongoing.
When asked what prompted the creation of the NBI special task force, Matibag said Mayor Duterte’s “ulo” statement served as the trigger point.
“Trigger point ay yung kay Mayor Baste,” he said.
However, he added that the NBI had already been monitoring threats against the President even before the statement was made.
Photo courtesy of MindaNews
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