Photo credit: Paolo Ortega

Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V questioned what he described as a double standard in the treatment of Vice President Sara Duterte, citing the 2020 arrest of a public school teacher who was charged after posting an alleged offer of ₱50 million to anyone who would kill then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ortega argued that if authorities acted swiftly against an ordinary citizen over an online post, the same level of accountability should apply to the country's second-highest elected official.

“Kung ordinaryong teacher, hinuli dahil nag-offer ng P50 million sa isang post para ipapatay ang Pangulo. Pero kapag Vice President ang nagsabing may kinausap siya na papatay sa Pangulo, First Lady at Speaker kung may mangyari sa kanya, biglang free speech lang?” Ortega said.

“Hindi puwedeng magkaiba ang sukatan o standards kapag makapangyarihan na ang nagsasalita,” he added.

The lawmaker was referring to the arrest of public school teacher Ronnel Mas in April 2020 after he posted on Twitter that he would give ₱50 million to anyone who could kill then-President Rodrigo Duterte. Mas later apologized, saying the post was intended as a joke made out of frustration during the COVID-19 lockdown. He was charged under the law on inciting to sedition and the Cybercrime Prevention Act before eventually being released on bail.

Ortega said the comparison is relevant because Duterte's controversial remarks were made publicly while she was serving as Vice President and were directed at the country's highest officials.

“Hindi natin minamaliit ang karapatan sa free speech. Pero kung ang biro o post ng isang teacher ay agad tinrato bilang seryosong banta noon, bakit ngayon parang gustong palabasin na hindi seryosong banta ang mas mabigat na pahayag mula sa Pangalawang Pangulo?” he said.

The controversy stems from Vice President Duterte's November 2024 online press briefing, where she said she had instructed someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. Duterte later clarified that her remarks were not an actual threat but part of a discussion about her own security concerns. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) nonetheless launched an inquiry, while Malacañang described the statements as a serious matter involving national security.

Ortega maintained that Duterte's remarks carried greater weight because they came from a constitutional official who is first in the line of succession to the presidency.

“Sa kaso ng teacher, offer umano na P50 million para patayin ang Pangulo. Sa kaso ng Vice President, sinabi niya mismo na may nakausap siyang tao at kung siya ay mapatay, patayin si BBM, si First Lady Liza at si Speaker Romualdez. Kung seryoso ang tingin natin sa una, mas seryoso dapat ang tingin natin sa pangalawa,” he said.

The House leader stressed that the issue is not about limiting free speech or suppressing political dissent but about ensuring that public officials are held to the same legal standards as ordinary citizens.

“Simple lang naman ang tanong natin: bakit noong ordinaryong mamamayan ang nagsalita tungkol sa pagpatay sa Pangulo, may agarang pananagutan; pero kapag Vice President ang nagsalita, hihingi pa tayo ng espesyal na palusot?” Ortega said.

He added that the Office of the Vice President carries a higher level of responsibility because its occupant may assume the presidency at any time under the Constitution.

“Hindi private citizen ang nagsalita dito. Ang nagsalita ay Pangalawang Pangulo ng Pilipinas, ang opisyal na puwedeng maging Pangulo anumang oras kung mabakante ang Malacañang. Kaya ang bawat salita niya, lalo na tungkol sa buhay ng Pangulo, may bigat na hindi puwedeng basta i-dismiss,” he stated.

Ortega also defended the ongoing impeachment proceedings, saying they provide the proper constitutional venue to determine whether Duterte's actions remain consistent with the public trust expected of a high-ranking official.

“The Vice President’s opinions are not on trial here. Making threats are not opinions. The more important question here is: is she fit to hold the second-highest public office if she behaves this way?” he said.

He urged Duterte's camp to fully participate in the impeachment proceedings before the Senate instead of dismissing the allegations outright.

“Kung sinasabi ng depensa na walang mali, harapin nila ang proseso. Ilabas ang paliwanag, ilabas ang ebidensya at hayaan ang impeachment court ang magpasya kung ordinaryong free speech ba iyon o seryosong paglabag sa public trust,” Ortega said.

The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to begin the trial proper on July 6. Vice President Duterte faces several Articles of Impeachment approved by the House of Representatives, including allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and the controversial statements against the President and other top government officials. Duterte has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the impeachment case is politically motivated.