Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail on September 5, 2026, after an arrest warrant was issued against her for three counts of grave threats. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 set bail at ₱120,000 for each count, totaling ₱360,000. The charges stem from an online press briefing in November 2024, where Duterte allegedly stated she had hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. Her legal team had argued for deferral, citing her status as an impeachable official, but the court found probable cause.
Duterte expressed significant concerns for her safety, telling journalists, "I have documented threats and harassment since 2023. I fear for my children. I do not feel they are safe if I am with them." She also claimed that police went to where her children were staying despite her having left for court, and stated, "I do not feel safe. Pakiramdam ko papatayin nila ako (I feel like they will kill me)." She questioned the presence of police, saying she did not feel safe with them around.
Her lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, confirmed that Duterte posted bail and underwent the booking process, which included taking her fingerprints. This move comes as Duterte faces an ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate, with a guilty verdict potentially ending her political career and her rumored 2028 presidential bid. The grave threats charges are also a crucial element in her impeachment proceedings. Justice Department officials have rejected her legal team's argument that she cannot be prosecuted for offenses tied to her impeachment.
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-LABAN) denounced the arrest warrant, calling it a "blatant attempt to decimate the political Opposition." Ferdinand Topacio, the national spokesperson for PDP-LABAN, accused the administration of using government agencies to target critics. Duterte's legal team had earlier filed a motion to quash the case, arguing the court lacked jurisdiction, but this was denied. A criminal conviction for grave threats under Philippine law carries a potential jail term of up to six months.
