The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Vice President Sara Duterte never reported threats to her and her family that she claimed started years ago.
The Vice President “has not reported to the PNP any threat to her life or to the safety of her family, including the threats she said date back to 2023,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Saturday.
During Duterte’s personal appearance at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Saturday to post bail on a case filed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) against her for grave threats, she remarked that law enforcers were present. Hesitant to enter the building, she remarked she does “not feel safe,” and distrusts the court as well as the police.
She said she has had such a feeling since 2023, following the harassment of her family by authorities she did not name.
Before she entered the court, she said she feared being put in a small elevator and leaving her alone with police officers.
Nartatez said the police presence at the Quezon City court was to provide security for the Vice President. “She was able to safely arrive at and leave the court,” he said.
“The PNP respects the right of anyone to raise concerns regarding their safety and treatment. We will allow the verification process to take its course and provide appropriate information once the facts have been established,” Nartatez said.
When the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was probing Duterte’s supposed threat to the first family in 2024, the Vice President was repeatedly invited to shed light on her accusations as well as the supposed threats against her. She refused the NBI invitations.
Nartatez said the PNP respects Duterte’s concerns for her safety, particularly after she said she no longer feels safe and fears for her children.
The PNP will continue monitoring and conducting threat assessments involving the Vice President and her immediate family, Nartatez said. He asked Duterte or her representatives to submit documents or reports on the alleged threats for proper verification and assessment.
