A Philippine regional court in Quezon City issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte over charges of “grave threats” against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Department of Justice filed three criminal counts following an investigation into her public remarks.
Following the warrant, Duterte voluntarily appeared at the courthouse on Saturday, completed processing and posted 360,000 pesos ($5,740) in bail to have the arrest warrant officially lifted.
Origins of the threat charges
The criminal charges trace back to an online press conference where Duterte claimed she had instructed an assassin to kill President Marcos, his wife and Romualdez if she herself were killed first.
While the Vice President later argued that her remarks were taken out of context and reflected concern for her own personal security, prosecutors deemed the statements a direct threat against top state officials.
Dual legal and political battles
This court order marks a major escalation in the bitter fallout between two of the nation’s most dominant political dynasties.
In addition to these criminal charges which carry a potential jail sentence of up to six months, Duterte is simultaneously fighting an impeachment trial in the Philippine Senate over alleged fund misuse and security threats.
Legal representatives for Duterte emphasized that she will not evade the legal process and intends to exhaust all legal remedies.
If convicted in either proceeding Duterte faces disqualification from running in the 2028 presidential election.
