Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre has filed House Bill No. 11166, known as the “Anti-Solicitation to Murder Act,” in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s shocking admission of arranging an assassination plot targeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte’s public acknowledgment, which she claimed was “not a joke,” has sparked nationwide outrage and raised questions about accountability at the highest levels of government.
“Ang ganitong pahayag ay hindi maaaring balewalain. Kung kaya ito gawin ng basta-basta lang sa pinakamataas na opisyal ng bansa, what is stopping anyone from doing the same sa mga walang kalaban-laban nating kababayan?,” Acidre said, stressing the urgency of introducing measures to address incitement to violence.
The proposed legislation defines solicitation to murder as the act of urging, encouraging, or inducing another person to commit murder, whether directly or indirectly, with or without compensation or reward. Acidre emphasized that the bill seeks to penalize solicitation regardless of whether the solicited crime is carried out.
“Ang House Bill No. 11166 ay tugon sa kakulangan ng malinaw na batas laban sa ganitong uri ng karahasan,” Acidre stated. “Hindi pwedeng hayaan na ang ganitong klase ng kilos, kahit na mula pa sa pinakamataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, ay walang katapat na parusa.”
The controversy surrounding Vice President Duterte has intensified after President Marcos condemned her statement as a “criminal plot. ” The National Bureau of Investigation issued a subpoena for questioning regarding potential violations of the anti-terrorism law. An impeachment complaint citing “betrayal of public trust” has also been filed against Duterte.
House Bill No. 11166 includes the following key provisions:
- Proportional Penalties: Solicitation resulting in murder will be punished with reclusion perpetua, with lesser penalties for attempted or frustrated crimes.
- Independent Prosecution: Solicitation can be prosecuted separately from the actual crime, with evidence such as correspondence, recordings, or testimony admissible in court.
- Civil Liability: Offenders must compensate victims or their families for moral and exemplary damages.
“Public officials must lead by example and uphold the rule of law,” Acidre concluded. “Ang panukalang batas na ito ay magbibigay ng malinaw na mensahe: hindi dapat hayaan na ang pananakot at karahasan ay bahagi ng ating lipunan, lalo na kung ito’y nagmumula sa mga may kapangyarihan.”
