Quezon City Prosecutor Dismisses Complaints Against Vice President Sara Duterte

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the dismissal of assault and grave coercion complaints filed by a police official against Vice President Sara Duterte and the head of her security detail.

In a resolution dated January 17, 2025, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, Assistant City Prosecutor Criscelyn Carayugan-Lugo junked the complaints filed by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) medical and dental unit chief Lt. Col. Jason Villamor against Vice President Sara Duterte and Col. Raymund Dante Petina, the head of her security detail.

The prosecutor’s resolution stated, “The complaint for violation of Article 148 (direct assault), Art. 151 (disobedience to authority), and Art. 286 (grave coercion) all of the Revised Penal Code against respondents Vice President Sara Duffy Duterte-Carpio and Col. Raymund Dante Petina is recommended to be dismissed.”

Vice President Sara Duterte. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Allegations Lack Sufficient Evidence

The prosecutor said the allegations of direct assault, disobedience to authority, and grave coercion were not supported by evidence.

The complaints stemmed from an incident during the transfer of Zuleika Lopez, the vice president’s chief of staff, from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to St. Luke’s Medical Center on November 23, 2024. Col. Petina allegedly assaulted Lt. Col. Villamor.

According to the prosecutor, “They also did not discuss the behavior of Colonel Villamor after the incident, which could have persuaded us that he was threatened and intimidated.” The video evidence submitted by Villamor, the prosecutor noted, negated his statements.

Therefore, the prosecutor concluded, “Being so, we are constrained to dismiss the complaint for insufficiency of evidence.”

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Conclusion

The decision by the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office to dismiss the complaints reflects a thorough examination of the available evidence, leading to the conclusion that the charges against Vice President Sara Duterte and Col. Raymund Dante Petina were unsubstantiated.

This ruling is significant as it brings closure to the incident and underscores the importance of a rigorous legal process in addressing allegations of misconduct by government officials.

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