Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated on Tuesday that the recent rally organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) will not influence the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) ongoing probe into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.
“I don’t think so. We just have to apply the law equally to everyone. We cannot offer special treatment based on a person’s position,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.
The rally, which was attended by an estimated 1.8 million people nationwide, according to police reports, was held to show support for Marcos’ opposition to efforts to impeach Duterte. However, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala clarified that the gathering was intended to promote peace and was not politically motivated.
Remulla added that he was not concerned about the rally’s intent, emphasizing that it was within the participants’ rights to express themselves.
“I’m not worried about it because it’s their freedom. They have the right to express their views, and we fully respect that,” he said.
He also confirmed that the NBI would soon submit its findings to the Department of Justice for further review.
“Of course, we will examine the case based on its merits,” Remulla stated.
The investigation into Duterte stems from her alleged threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Duterte has not appeared before the NBI to clarify her statements, citing a lack of confidence in the agency’s fairness. She previously claimed that her comments had been “maliciously taken out of context.”
