The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday—just days after Vice President Sara Duterte declared her intention to run for president in 2028—that a draft decision on the cases filed against her is now under review.
DOJ spokesperson lawyer Polo Martinez said prosecutors have already prepared a resolution on the complaints for grave threats and inciting to sedition, but the document is still undergoing internal vetting.
“Under review meaning there is already a resolution. It is pending review with the division head,” Martinez explained.
The complaints were filed in February 2025 by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The cases stemmed from Duterte’s public remarks in a video released in late November 2024, where she said she had hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker if she were killed.
Because of these statements, the NBI lodged charges for inciting to sedition and grave threats.
Martinez stressed that Duterte’s newly announced plan to seek the presidency in 2028 will not influence how prosecutors assess the case.
“Whether or not she announces plans to run for president will not affect the assessment of the prosecutors. The same rule applies to everyone,” he said.
Under DOJ rules, prosecutors have 60 days from the filing of a complaint to resolve a case. Martinez noted that this period already covers the review process and the submission of additional evidence or counter‑affidavits.
If a case is deemed complex, prosecutors may be granted an additional 30 days to complete their review. Martinez said Duterte’s case is likely being treated as a complex matter, which means the DOJ may use the extension.
