DOJ assures due process in cases vs Sara Duterte

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said the preliminary investigation into the complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte was being conducted in full accordance with the law.

"Vice President Duterte shall be given every opportunity to answer the allegations and to present her defense before the investigating prosecutors," the DOJ said in a statement.

"During this process, prosecutors shall carefully evaluate the evidence presented to determine whether prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction exists. The Department of Justice will ensure that the process will follow the normal course of law, and that accountability and the rule of law will prevail regardless of who the respondent may be," it added.

Duterte filed her counter-affidavit to the charges filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over her remark that she tapped an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if a supposed assassination plot against her were to succeed.

"Our Vice President had filed her counter-affidavit to the complaint filed by the NBI. We would not discuss our defense because we do not want to preempt the trial, and out of respect for the prosecutors," Michael Poa, one of the vice president's lawyers, told reporters.

"We expect due process, that's the minimum. We can only expect due process," he added.

The next hearing for the case was scheduled on May 16.