Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference. File photo

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) charges of inciting to sedition and grave threat complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte for her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr et.al.

According to NBI director Jaime Santiago, the 5 lawyers who worked on the case were unanimous in recommending the filing of complaints against the Vice President.

The NBI has submitted its recommendations to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Santiago said.

“Nai-file na po natin sa DOJ at nasa DOJ na ang bola ngayon. Ide-determine nila kung magko-conduct sila ng preliminary investigation at kung kailangan i-file ang case sa court,” the NBI director said.

The Vice President Duterte last year said that she had arranged for President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to be killed should she be assassinated. The Vice President later said that her remarks were taken out of context.

Meanwhile, DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said they were checking if the NBI’s recommendation was already filed in their office.

“If it is with the NPS already, it will again be evaluated to determine if the evidence is complete. If it is, then that is the only time it can be referred for preliminary investigation,” he said.

Pending the complaint’s evaluation, Fadullon declined to give more details “in order not to preempt the results and prejudice the rights of any party.”

Asked to react on the NBI’s finding, Duterte said, “as expected.”

Duterte’s alleged kill threat was among those cited by civil society groups when they filed impeachment complaints against her.

She was impeached by the House of Representatives last week on charges of “violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes”.

Sixteen votes in the 24-seat Senate are now needed to deliver a conviction that would bar Duterte from public office, including a presidential run she says she is “seriously considering”.