Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17839319761911783931973948.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte during the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp program launch at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo, Manila on July 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte during the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp program launch at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo, Manila on July 18, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged grave threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s life do not fall under freedom of expression, National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc said during the impeachment trial.</p><p>“As a lawyer and being in the law enforcement, freedom of speech protects lawful expression, but it does not protect utterances that satisfies the elements of a criminal offense like this one.”</p><p>This was Lotoc’s response when Atty. Amando Ligutan — counsel for the prosecutors — asked whether Duterte’s alleged threats to Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez are protected by the freedom of expression. </p><p>Lotoc, a lawyer and current chief of the NBI Bangsamoro, is the second witness the prosecution presented on the fourth article of impeachment. </p><p>He headed the cybercrime division in 2024 when Duterte issued the alleged grave threats. </p><p>“If we allow the argument that it is within the bounds of freedom of speech, if we allow that to be the norms of our society, then who would prevent anybody from doing the same to anyone?” Lotoc said. </p><p>“Pwede na pong sabihin, &#x27;Patayin mo si senador ganito, pag ganito ang nangyare,&#x27; &#x27;Patayin mo si congressman ganito pag ganito ang nangyare,&#x27; &#x27;Patayin mo si justice ganito pag ganito ang nangyare.&#x27; Imagine, Your Honor, the anarchy, the disorder and the chaos it would bring to our country,” he added. </p><p>Before this, Lotoc also said that Duterte’s alleged grave threats were <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/nbi-exec-jeremy-lotoc-testifies-before-senate-impeachment-court-1514">&quot;serious and real,</a>” and that the vice president was “not merely joking when she uttered those threats.”</p><p>He said the findings of the NBI investigation resulted in the filing of three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against Duterte. <strong>—With a report from Rowegie Abanto, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPGAXK-K1Ns?si=WlM6aaAim4I1Amde" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>“If we allow the argument that it is within the bounds of freedom of speech, if we allow that to be the norms of our society, then who would prevent anybody from doing the same to anyone?” Lotoc said.</p>

“If we allow the argument that it is within the bounds of freedom of speech, if we allow that to be the norms of our society, then who would prevent anybody from doing the same to anyone?” Lotoc said.

Lotoc: Duterte’s ‘grave threats’ against Marcos fall outside freedom of speech

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Lotoc: Duterte’s ‘grave threats’ against Marcos fall outside freedom of speech

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 04:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Jeremy Lotoc

National Bureau of Investigation

grave threats

freedom of speech

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