Duterte: I made no threat vs. France Castro

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has denied any grave threat against ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

In a counter affidavit to the grave threats complaint Castro filed against him, Duterte called the accusations "downright baseless, unfounded and grossly insufficient to satisfy the requirements of probable cause to indict me for the crime charged."

"It bears emphasizing that none of the requisite elements of the crime charged are present considering that I made no actual threat whatsoever to complainant Castro. In the first subject episode [cited in the complaint], I was merely recounting the conversation I had with my daughter, anent the proposed confidential funds of the Office of the Vice-President and the Department of Education," Duterte said, referring to the October 11 episode of his SMNI program Gikan sa Masa, Para da Masa.

"It was a narration of our private dialogue and my recollection of the advice that I gave Inday Sara concerning said issue as evidenced by the phrases "sabi ko sa kanya," "prangkahin mo", "sabi ko kay Inday" and "sabihin mo na sa kanya." The alleged threatening statements were not even addressed to complainant Castro or to any individual as I was simply reciting the story of my talk with Inday Sara," he added.

Duterte, a lawyer, also argued that his follow up statements in another episode of his show wherein he called for killing communists, including Castro, is not intended to harm.

"Notably absent in the phrase "Yun komunista patayin, kasali ka, dapat!" is any word signifying my personal determination, inclination or capability. Neither was the phrase couched in a language that shows future intention. If anything, the same is a mere statement of an opinion rather than of an aim, purpose or objective as claimed by complainant Castro," he added.

In addition, Duterte said his remarks were only made in response to a question from a viewer amid rumors of the supposed plan to impeach his daughter, and that the interview immediately proceeded with a discourse with lawyer Salvador Panelo on an entirely different matter.

"I never had any intent to threaten or intimidate complainant Castro. Even supposing for the sake of argument that a threat was indeed conveyed, the foregoing evidently shows that I never abided by such [an] idea," he said.

"In view of the foregoing, the charge for Grave Threats under Article 282 of the RPC in relation to R.A. No. 10175 must be dismissed as the Complaint-Affidavit and the Supplemental Complaint-Affidavit failed to prove that the elements of the crime charged are present and that I had any intent to commit the same," Duterte said.

Castro, in response, countered that Duterte cannot wiggle his way out of the complaint by arguing non-intention because his words carry a serious threat, and he has since refrained from making threats against Castro after his shows October 11 and November 16 episodes.

“Napakahalaga nito kasi siguro biro lang sa kanya iyong mga sinasabi niyang threat at pambabastos sa kababaihan, pero sineseryoso natin ito," she said.

“Ngayon, wala na akong nakikita, namomonitor na threat niya against me. Siguro narealize na niya rin na hindi ko siya papalampasin,” she added.

The lawmaker expressed confidence that the court would decide in her favor by January next year.

"The fiscal said the resolution on this could be out by January next year. I have faith in the merits of my case and I have faith that we will be able to get justice," she said.

Duterte did not show up on Friday, the second day of the preliminary investigation on Castro's complaint.

The former president also skipped the first day of the preliminary investigation on December 4.—NB,GMA Integrated News