The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s request to remove the judge handling her criminal case for grave threats, clearing the way for the proceedings to continue.
In an order dated September 14, Judge Maria Angelica De Ramos of QC-RTC Branch 98 ruled that Duterte’s motion for inhibition lacked merit and found no sufficient reason for her to step aside.
Duterte’s lawyers had asked De Ramos to inhibit herself, accusing the court of manifest partiality, bias and favoritism in its handling of the case.
The defense claimed the court had allegedly assisted the prosecution in establishing probable cause and had admitted evidence that was not part of the prosecution’s original submission.
The judge rejected those arguments, saying there was no clear and convincing evidence of actual bias, prejudgment or an improper connection that would reasonably call her impartiality into question.
Arraignment had been delayed
Duterte’s lawyers filed the motion on September 10, just one day before her scheduled arraignment.
As a result, the court deferred the September 11 proceedings while it considered whether De Ramos should be removed from the case.
With the motion now denied, Duterte’s legal team has indicated that it will pursue whatever remedies remain available.
Her counsel, Paul Lawrence Lim, also said the defense would comply with the court’s directive requiring both sides to observe the sub judice rule and refrain from publicly discussing the merits of the case.
Duterte faces three grave threats charges
The Vice President is facing three counts of grave threats filed by the Department of Justice over remarks she made during an online press conference in November 2024.
During the press conference, Duterte said she had contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed.
Her remarks came amid a political confrontation surrounding the House investigation into the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President.
The controversy intensified after the House committee investigating the matter ordered the transfer of Duterte’s chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, from a House detention facility to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
Lopez had earlier been cited in contempt by the House committee over alleged interference in its investigation.
Duterte already posted bail
The latest court ruling comes after Duterte posted bail on September 5, one day after the QC court issued an arrest warrant in connection with the three grave threats charges.
The denial of the inhibition motion removes another procedural hurdle that had prevented the case from moving forward.
The court’s order also puts both the prosecution and defense under tighter restrictions on public statements about the case as the proceedings continue.
For Duterte, the ruling means her legal battle over the grave threats allegations will remain before the same judge unless a higher court or another available legal remedy changes the situation.
The case is unfolding alongside the separate impeachment proceedings against the Vice President, making Duterte’s legal and political battles among the most closely watched developments in the Philippines.
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