Vice President Sara Duterte claimed on Wednesday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is using the Anti-Terrorism Act to gain access to her assets and properties, describing the move as harassment.
“Natatawa ako sa violations on the anti-terror law kasi sinusuukan nila to reach sa aking properties and assets,” Duterte said during a press conference. (I find the violation of the anti-terrorism law funny since they’re trying to access my properties and assets.)
Duterte compared the investigation to actions previously taken against suspended Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. In 2023, Teves was designated a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, which linked him to killings and harassment in Negros Oriental. He was also tagged as the mastermind behind the attack on the late Governor Roel Degamo.
“Kasi itong violation na ito ng anti-terrorism law ginawa nila ito kay Congressman Arnie Teves. They have a playbook on what you do to a person na kakasuhan mo ng anti-terrorism,” Duterte alleged. (They did the same anti-terrorism law violations to Congressman Arnie Teves. They have a playbook for handling someone accused of terrorism.)
The Vice President detailed the alleged consequences of being accused under the Anti-Terrorism Act, including passport cancellation, Interpol red notices, frozen assets, and property searches. She also accused authorities of planting evidence such as firearms and illegal drugs to build cases.
“This is clearly oppression and harassment,” Duterte remarked.
The NBI served Duterte with a subpoena following her remarks in a video where she suggested that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez would face assassination if she were killed. Duterte insisted that her statement was taken out of context and was not meant as a threat.
The Vice President’s comments come after the House of Representatives ordered her chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, to be transferred from House detention to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, which Duterte criticized as politically motivated.
