Robredo asks DOJ to order police to produce evidence in sedition rap

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday asked the Department of Justice to order the Philippine National Police to produce its evidence in its sedition complaint before she files her defenses.

Robredo also asked the DOJ to allow her camp to wait for the PNP's evidence before filing their defense or counter-affidavit.

“It is a fundamental Constitutional right that no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of the law,” the motion, filed Thursday through lawyer Marlon Manuel, read.

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PNP complaint vs opposition figures

Robredo is the highest official named in the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s complaint tagging opposition figures and Church leaders in an alleged ouster plot against the president.

On July 18, the police filed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyberlibel, libel estafa, harboring a criminal and obstruction of justice charges against Robredo and at least 35 others.

The PNP anchored their criminal allegations on testimony of Peter Joemel Advicula—who has twice claimed to be the “Bikoy” in anonymously posted videos alleging the Dutertes have links to illegal drugs—which he first bared in a press conference at the police headquarters May 27.

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Robredo’s camp noted that in the PNP’s letter-complaint, “it is made to appear that respondent is ‘probably involved’” in the alleged crimes.

But they pointed out that the allegation is “not only bare, unsubstantiated and false, but can hardly constitute basis to consider charging her with the crimes of sedition, inciting to sedition and cyberlibel.”

They also noted that while it has been reported in the news that the police have other evidence aside from Advincula’s allegations this has been withheld from them.

“Assuming that such alleged ‘evidence’ exists, respondent moves that the Honorable Office direct complainant to produce such alleged evidence and allow respondent to make copies or copy the same. This would allow respondent to adequately and intelligently respond to the baseless and wild accusations against her in the present case,” the motion further read.

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The Department of Justice is set to start its preliminary probe into the complaint on Friday.