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DOJ studying legal consequences of Duterte's statement on Marcos Sr.'s remains

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172948523059820240828-sara-duterte-hor-budget-hearing3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte attends a hearing for the Office of the Vice President&#x27;s 2025 budget at the House of Representatives on August 27, 2024. Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte attends a hearing for the Office of the Vice President&#x27;s 2025 budget at the House of Representatives on August 27, 2024. <em>Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives</em></span></span></span>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — The Department of Justice is studying the legal consequences of the statements made by Vice President Sara Duterte regarding the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.</div><p>This, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.</p><p>&quot;It desecrates the memory of a person, it desecrates the peaceful state that he must be in, having already perished, to disturb the body and there are many other moral principles that are being violated, and we are looking at the legal aspects also,&quot; Remulla said on Monday.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re conducting a study,&quot; he added.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/892mU1b7e5A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The 1987 Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, a point often raised during the presidency of Vice President Duterte&#x27;s father, Rodrigo Duterte, who often made controversial off-the-cuff remarks in his speeches and late-night addresses.</p><p>However, authorities have previously been sensitive to comments — especially by ordinary citizens — seen to be threats to top officials, their security, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/21/23/teacher-faces-raps-after-posting-commonwealth-vip-traffic-vid">and their reputations</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/25/20/ronnel-mas-sedition-charge-dropped-duterte-threat">FROM 2020: Court drops inciting to sedition rap vs teacher over anti-Duterte post</a></div><p>Duterte on Friday said she once warned Sen. Imee Marcos that she would personally exhume the remains of the lawmaker&#x27;s father and throw it to the West Philippine Sea if they continue their supposed political attacks against her.</p><p>Former President Duterte, had allowed the burial of the late dictator&#x27;s remains at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in 2016, sparking protests nationwide. </p><p>&quot;Isang beses sinabihan ko talaga si Sen. Imee, sabi ko pag di kayo tumigil, huhukayin ko yang tatay nyo, itatapon ko sya sa West Philippine Sea. One of these days pupunta ako don, kukunin ko yang katawan ng tatay nyo, tapon ko yan don sa West Philippine Sea,&quot; Duterte said in a press conference.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t think sumagot s&#x27;ya. Nandon pa yon sa group chat, merong mga nakakita na ibang tao,&quot; she added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/18/vp-sara-recalls-warning-imee-i-will-exhume-marcos-sr-s-body-throw-it-to-the-west-ph-sea-1324">FULL STORY: VP Sara recalls warning Imee: &#x27;I will exhume Marcos Sr.&#x27;s body, throw it to the West PH Sea&#x27;</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172948525311920230403-pnp-task-force-degamo-briefing-JC1125.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Secretary of Interior and Local Government Benjamin Abalos, Jr. and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla share updates from Special Task Force Degamo, during a press conference at the PNP Media Center, in Camp Crame in Quezon City on April 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Secretary of Interior and Local Government Benjamin Abalos, Jr. and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla share updates from Special Task Force Degamo, during a press conference at the PNP Media Center, in Camp Crame in Quezon City on April 3, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>Remulla noted that the statement is coming from the vice president, who occupies the second highest government post in the country.</div><p>&quot;Very disturbing for a person of her rank, second highest official of the land, the remarks are unbecoming, I think and it does not augur well for the dignity of the office,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s very disturbing if a person can think that way and she holds a very high position,&quot; he added. &quot;I think it&#x27;s very disturbing. Lahat naman tayo, hindi natin gusto iyong narinig natin.&quot;</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s comments came during a press conference where she also criticized the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/18/vp-duterte-says-marcos-does-not-know-how-to-be-president-kasalanan-ko-ba-yun-1132">READ: VP Duterte says Marcos &#x27;does not know how to be president&#x27;</a></div><p>Her statements have drawn criticisms from lawmakers, with House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong calling her remarks on Marcos Sr. &quot;a blatant act of desecration.&quot; <strong>—  with reports from Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u547LFz8hbk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Justice is studying the legal consequences of the statements made by Vice President Sara Duterte regarding the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.</p>

The Department of Justice is studying the legal consequences of the statements made by Vice President Sara Duterte regarding the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.