FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte again skipped on Friday the preliminary investigation of the grave threat complaint filed against him by ACT Teachers party list Rep. France Castro, but his lawyers submitted his counteraffidavit answering the charges on his behalf.
According to Castro, Duterte’s two lawyers appeared in the Quezon City prosecutor’s office to present the counteraffidavit of the former president, which the latter subscribed before a prosecutor in Davao City.
“Hindi na naman dumating si Pangulong Duterte… Meron silang binigay na manifestation… dahil malayo daw yung lugar,” she told reporters.
“Natanggap na namin ang counteraffidavit, it’s now up to the fiscal to resolve the case,” Castro said.
The congresswoman, who accused Duterte of threatening her life following her criticisms of his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, said the prosecutor might issue a resolution by January, “but there is no definite date yet.”
Castro expressed optimism that she has a strong case against the former president.
“Ako ay naniniwala sa ating counsel, sa merit ng kasong finile natin. Nagtitiwala ako na justice will be served,” she said.
Castro’s complaint stemmed from Duterte’s statement in the SMNI program Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa where he said he wanted to kill her.
In October, Castro filed charges against Duterte for saying: “Ikaw France, kayong mga Komunista ang gusto kong patayin,” Duterte had said.
Castro later filed a supplementary complaint where she alleged that Duterte threatened to kill her for a second time.
