Duterte supporters flock at QC Prosecutors Office, former leader took oath in Davao

Around a hundred supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte staged a lightning rally in front of the Quezon City Prosecutors' Office Friday to express their support to the former leader, who was charged with grave threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 filed by ACT Teachers Party-list lawmaker France Castro.

The group said they expected the former president's personal appearance as he was "commanded" by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola to appear personally to submit his counter-affidavit to Castro's complaint in a subpoena dated 27 October 2023.

Rolando Olamit, State Chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front based in Davao, said they flew from Davao City "just for this purpose (of supporting) Duterte."

"Papansin lang 'yan si Castro (Castro just wants attention). This is just politics," Olamit told the Daily Tribune.

John Raña, vice president for Mindanao of the group Republic Defenders that was founded by former Solicitor General Jose Calida, said they were there to support Duterte.

"We're here for justice to the former president. (France) Castro is a recruiter of young Filipinos to become NPA (New People's Army). I don't want that to happen to my grandchildren. They (Castro et al) sabotaged the peace talks in 2017," Raña said.

Jun Dela Cruz, of Inday Cares, also a Davao-based group, said he also came "to back Duterte and his daughter who is also the subject of black propaganda."

The group waited for the former leader till mid afternoon to appear, only to be told Duterte had already sworn before the Davao City Prosecutor and sent his lawyer Antonio Lapiña to submit his counter-affidavit.

Instead, Castro was the one who showed up with her own supporters, resulting to an exchange of shouting from both camps. The local police intervened and instructed the warring supporters to disperse voluntarily or face arrest for disturbance.

Duterte was charged for the statements he made in a television program at Sonshine Media Network International where he talked about the use of the confidential funds then being requested by his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.

"The first one to [be targeted] with the intel funds is you, France, and other communists whom I'd like to kill," said Duterte.

In her affidavit, Castro said it was clear that Duterte was referring to her with his threat to kill.

The former president could face a maximum of six years of imprisonment and a fine of P100,000 in case the court finds him guilty of grave threats.

However, the Duterte supporters insisted that Castro's complaint is baseless.

"Ipinakikita namin ang aming matibay na suporta kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte habang siya'y nagpa-file ng kanyang counter affidavit laban sa walang basehang kaso ni France Castro. Sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang Pangulo mula 2016 hanggang 2022, siya'y matapang na nagtanggol sa atin laban sa kaliwa at iba pang kriminal na elemento. Ngayon, panahon na natin na ipagtanggol si Tatay Digong," they said.