Philippine court orders VP Duterte arrested
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A Philippine trial court on Friday ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte over a criminal case accusing her of making threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez. The warrant covers three counts of grave threats, while Duterte's lawyer said she does not intend to evade the law and will pursue legal remedies.
Key Points
- The Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued the arrest warrant on Friday in a case involving three counts of grave threats against Sara Duterte
- The court order set bail at 120,000 pesos, or about US$1,900, for each of the three counts
- The case stems from remarks Duterte made in November 2024, when she said she had spoken with an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife and Romualdez if she were killed.
- Duterte has denied threatening them, and her lawyer said she would not evade the law despite questions raised over jurisdiction
- The same alleged threats are also part of the impeachment complaint now being tried before the Philippine Senate sitting as an impeachment court
Why It Matters
The arrest warrant intensifies the legal and political pressure on Duterte at a time when her impeachment trial is already under way, raising the stakes for her hold on office and her reported 2028 presidential ambitions. For Hong Kong readers tracking regional politics, the case points to continued instability at the top of a nearby Southeast Asian government and the prospect of further institutional confrontation in Manila.