Former President Rodrigo Duterte is not required to personally face a prosecutor’s summons concerning a grave threat complaint filed by ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, his former spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.
“That’s not a requirement,” Roque, Duterte’s legal counsel for the case filed by Castro, told ANC’s “Headstart” when asked if the former Chief Executive would personally answer the subpoena.
“Lawyers can appear, especially in the initial hearing, to receive a copy of the complaint affidavit and he can have his affidavit sworn before any public prosecutor even in Davao City,” Roque said.
Quezon City Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola issued a subpoena ordering Duterte to appear before the Office of the City Prosecutor on December 4 and 11, 2023.
The former president was directed to submit his counter-affidavit in response to the grave threats complaint filed by Castro, along with the affidavits of his witnesses and other supporting documents.