Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores wants Vice President Sara Duterte to be held criminally liable over her ‘death threat’ against President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez during a wild virtual press conference over the weekend.
“If bomb jokes land you in jail, VP Duterte’s death threats to the president should be probed for criminal liability,” Flores said on Sunday, adding his thoughts on the issue.
A lawyer by profession, Flores believes to threaten the highest public official of the land has its legal repercussions and criminal consequences.
“If a simple bomb joke can be a reason to arrest and detain a person, what more if you declare a death threat against our President? Death threats, especially directed at the President, should never be taken lightly,” he stressed.
Flores noted the Department of Justice must seriously study Duterte’s liability. He referred to an August 2024 incident when a senior citizen was offloaded from a flight and detained after making a bomb joke inside the plane.
“Death threats are a serious matter. They must not be ignored. The Vice President’s words were not only reckless but also dangerous. They undermine our democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
Under the Revised Penal Code, a person who threatens the life, honor, or property of another is committing acts of grave threats, which is punishable by fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity and circumstances surrounding the threat.
