Philippines – A Quezon City court has ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte, marking a sharp turn in a case that has kept many Filipinos here and abroad glued to the news.
According to a news report, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued the warrant on September 4, 2026. The court found probable cause on all three counts of grave threats and rejected Duterte’s motion to defer or recall the warrant “for lack of merit.”
What the Court and DOJ Said
Justice Department spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez cleared up the confusion around the order. He stressed there was no earlier warrant and that the one released that day is the only one.
- “There is only one warrant and that is the warrant issued today,” Martinez said.
- The DOJ said it “respects the Court’s ruling” and stands by the rule of law.
- On the immunity question, the DOJ holds that only the sitting President is shielded from suit — not the Vice President.
Duterte’s Response
Duterte’s camp signaled she will fight the case within the system, not run from it. Her lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, said the Vice President “has no intention of evading the law” and plans to post bail as soon as possible.
Her defense had earlier argued that as an impeachable officer, she should not face criminal charges while in office.
Where the Case Came From
The charges trace back to a November 2024 online briefing. In it, Duterte said she had arranged for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to be killed if she herself were assassinated. She has since said her words were taken out of context.
What Happens Next
Paolo Tamase, associate dean at the University of the Philippines College of Law, said the most likely move is straightforward:
- File for bail before the regional trial court.
- Challenge the warrant later at the Court of Appeals or even the Supreme Court.
A conviction on grave threats carries a jail term of up to six months. The case is separate from — though closely tied to — Duterte’s ongoing Senate impeachment trial.
Reactions
Malacañang said it respects the court order. But Senator Bong Go, a Duterte ally, questioned the timing, pointing out that the alleged threat dates back to November 2024.
We’ll keep you updated as the case moves forward.