Philippines lawmaker sues ex-president Rodrigo Duterte over death threat

France Castro, deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives, said Duterte made a ‘serious threat’ to her life during a television interview

The 78-year-old ex-president mentioned Castro’s name in the interview as he railed against ‘communists’ he ‘wanted to kill’

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Rodrigo Duterte was known for his fiery, often expletive-ridden remarks when he ran the Philippines for six years until mid-2022. Photo: Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP

Published: 2:32pm, 24 Oct 2023

A Philippine lawmaker on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint against ex-President Rodrigo Duterte for what she described as a “serious threat” to her life, alleging that the former leader threatened to kill her during a television interview this month.

France Castro, deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives, said the former president must be held accountable now that he no longer enjoys immunity from lawsuits as a private citizen.

Castro was among the lawmakers who had criticised Duterte’s daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, for seeking confidential funds in the 2024 budget.

Philippine legislator France Castro (centre) shows a document after filing a criminal complaint against Duterte in Quezon City on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The 78-year-old ex-president was known for his fiery, often expletive-ridden remarks when he ran the country for six years until mid-2022. Duterte has yet to issue an official statement and his aides have not immediately responded to requests for comment. Grave threat is punishable by up to six months in jail.

The complaint filed by Castro cited Duterte’s interview with SMNI, a broadcasting company owned by Philippine television evangelist Apollo Quiboloy who’s a known Duterte supporter.

In the interview which aired on October 11, Duterte mentioned Castro’s name as he railed against “communists” he “wanted to kill”.

“Respondent Duterte’s grave threats, and the fact of their continued spread even until today, present dangers to my life, liberty, and security,” Castro said in her complaint filed with the prosecutor’s office in Quezon City.