INC rally won't affect NBI probe vs. Sara Duterte's 'kill' remark — SOJ Remulla

The recent Iglesia Ni Cristo rally will not affect the probe of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into the supposed threat made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other personalities, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday.  

“I don’t think so. Kasi [Because] we just have to look at the law as something that equalizes everything between all of us. That’s why we cannot give special favors to people because of standing,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

The rally, which drew 1.8 million people nationwide according to the police, was meant to support Marcos' stance against impeaching Duterte.

INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala, however, said that the rally was for peace and is not political.

Remulla also said he is not concerned about the intentions of the rally as the participants have the freedom to express themselves.

“I’m not concerned about that because it’s their freedom. They have the freedom to express themselves and we respect that freedom. We guard that freedom zealously,” he said.

Remulla reiterated that the NBI will submit its report to the Department of Justice soon.

“Siyempre (of course), we have to look at it from the merit standpoint. The merits of the case, case or cases,” he said.

Duterte was investigated for alleged grave threats in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and possible violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 following her alleged kill order against the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

She did not appear before the NBI to explain her remark, saying she does not expect fairness from the agency. She previously said her remarks against the First Couple and Romualdez were “maliciously taken out of logical context.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News