Senator-judge Pia Cayetano asked NBI-BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc to clarify the distinction between a “warning” and a “threat” during the fifth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Cayetano raised the question after Lotoc repeatedly referred to the term “threat” while discussing the alleged grave threats complaint against the Vice President.

“What would be the difference between a mere warning and a threat? At what point does a warning become a threat?” Cayetano asked.

Lotoc explained that a warning may refer to an event-based condition, while a threat involves a possible danger or harm directed toward a person. He added that the two terms may overlap depending on the context.

“Warning is maybe there is a what we call an event-based condition, Your Honor, pag ang threat is with a condition, pwede ho siyang mag-fall ng ganoon. Pag sinabi ng threat is, pag ginawa mo to, ito ang gagawin ko sa’yo, papatayin kita, papatayin ko yung pamilya mo, papatayin ko yung ganyan. So para siyang nag-o-overlap depende sa appreciation ng investigator, Your Honor,” Lotoc said.

Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero further clarified the Filipino terms, explaining that “warning” means “babala” while “threat” means “banta.”

Escudero noted that whether a statement becomes a threat depends on several circumstances, including the context, delivery, tone, and the person’s capacity to carry out the alleged threat.

Lotoc agreed, saying the determination depends on the surrounding facts and circumstances.

“So laging contextual,” Cayetano concluded, with Lotoc agreeing that the interpretation depends on the circumstances surrounding the statement.