The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said it was not surprised by the filing of a grave threats case against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and expressed confidence that the charges would eventually be dismissed.
Lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim, Duterte’s counsel in the case, said the Vice President’s legal team had anticipated the development and was prepared to challenge the case filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
‘Under the prevailing circumstances, we have anticipated and prepared for such an outcome. Under our laws, the Vice President continues to be presumed innocent and is confident that the charges against her will be dismissed,’ Lim said in a statement.
The case involves Duterte’s statements concerning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The same statements are also the subject of Article IV of the impeachment complaint against Duterte.
Lim maintained that Duterte, as the sitting Vice President, may not be prosecuted for the alleged offense.
He said the defense would avail itself of all available legal remedies to address the charges and the legal issues arising from the prosecution.
‘Given these serious legal issues faced by the Vice President, we will exercise all available legal means and remedies in due course,’ Lim said.