House prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday, saying she must be held accountable for the grave threats charges filed against her and answer for the allegations.
“‘Sinong mananagot?’ Kayo po, Madam Vice President, ang kailangang managot at sumagot sa mga alegasyong kinakaharap ninyo,” Ridon said.
“Tama na po ang drama. Wala naman pong grave threats case ngayon kung hindi dahil sa mga pahayag na naging batayan ng kasong isinampa laban sa inyo,” he added.
Ridon urged Duterte to face the legal process and present her defense before the court instead of raising concerns about her safety.
“Harapin po ninyo ang proseso at ilahad po ninyo ang inyong depensa sa korte,” he said.
Ridon’s remarks came after Duterte questioned who would be held responsible if she died while inside the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC), where she appeared following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.
Duterte earlier expressed concern for her safety after arriving at the Quezon City Hall of Justice on Saturday to face the grave threats charges linked to her alleged “kill” remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family members in 2024.
The Vice President initially refused to enter the QC RTC, citing concerns over a possible threat to her life if she entered the courtroom without her security personnel.
“I really do not feel safe. Wala akong tiwala sa korte, wala akong tiwala sa pulis. I do not feel safe,” Duterte told reporters while speaking with her lawyers outside the Quezon City Hall of Justice.
She also alleged that authorities had harassed the places where her mother and child were staying.
“I do not feel safe. Hinarass nila ‘yung lugar kung nasaan ‘yung nanay ko at saka ‘yung anak ko. Saan ako pupunta?” Duterte said.
Duterte later questioned who would be held responsible should she die.
“Sino sasagot ‘pag namatay ako mamayang gabi? Sinong mananagot? Sinong mananagot?” she said, adding that she feared authorities could make her death “look like an accident.”
“I do not feel safe at all, kahit anong gawin ko,” Duterte said.
The Vice President eventually underwent the required court proceedings and posted bail for the three counts of grave threats filed against her.
