MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has challenged Vice President Sara Duterte and her camp to present concrete evidence supporting their allegations that police personnel harassed or intimidated her and her family during the implementation of an arrest warrant.
Speaking at a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, Remulla rejected the accusation that police officers acted improperly when they served the warrant against Duterte in connection with her grave threats case.
“There was no SWAT. There was no armed component,” Remulla said, adding that the women involved in the operation were unarmed and that Duterte’s representatives were properly received at their residence and office.
Remulla then issued a direct challenge to Duterte’s camp: produce available CCTV footage if it shows that harassment took place during the service of the warrant.
Remulla: Show the CCTV
The DILG chief said authorities were prepared to stand by the police operation, noting that body-camera footage was also available.
The challenge comes after Duterte accused government agencies of conducting harassment and surveillance operations against her, saying Remulla’s earlier admission that authorities knew her whereabouts appeared to support documents allegedly in her camp’s possession.
Duterte also questioned why authorities visited members of her family if police already knew where she was.
She argued that the visits were intended to frighten or intimidate her family and reiterated that she did not trust the police or the courts.
PNP Says No Verified Threat Has Been Found
The Philippine National Police has taken a more measured position.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force understands Duterte’s concerns and remains committed to lawful, professional and impartial operations.
However, the PNP has said it has not received a formal report from Duterte concerning threats to her life or the safety of her family dating back to 2023. Police have likewise said they have not independently verified any threat against the Vice President or her family.
Nartatez nevertheless said the PNP remains open to receiving documents, reports or statements concerning the alleged threats so these can be assessed and investigated.
The police chief also said authorities provided security during Duterte’s appearance at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, where she was able to arrive and leave safely.
Palace Assures Duterte Police Will Not Be Used Against Her
Malacañang has also sought to calm concerns surrounding Duterte’s safety.
The Presidential Communications Office said the administration would not allow the police force to be used as a weapon of violence against anyone.
The Palace maintained that the PNP was simply carrying out its legal mandate without political considerations.
The government’s position contrasts sharply with Duterte’s repeated claims that she does not feel safe in police custody.
The Vice President has maintained that she fears what could happen to her if she were detained and has questioned whether authorities could guarantee her safety.
Duterte Already Posted P360,000 Bail
The controversy erupted after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant against Duterte on September 4 over three counts of grave threats.
The charges stem from her 2024 public remarks concerning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The court found probable cause to proceed with all three charges and set bail at P120,000 per count. Duterte subsequently posted P360,000 in total bail on September 5.
Duterte has denied the accusations and has maintained that the cases against her are politically motivated.
Reuters reported that the arrest warrant and Duterte’s concerns over her safety have added another layer to the increasingly bitter political conflict between the Duterte and Marcos camps.
Gatchalian Calls for Threats to Be Taken Seriously
Amid the dispute, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged authorities not to dismiss Duterte’s safety concerns.
Gatchalian said that if the Vice President has information indicating a threat to her life or her family, authorities should investigate it seriously—regardless of who the person making the claim is.
He also stressed that the criminal case against Duterte and the Senate impeachment proceedings are separate legal processes.
That puts the focus on what happens next: whether Duterte’s camp will produce the documents, CCTV footage or other evidence it says it possesses, and whether authorities will find those materials sufficient to establish that harassment or unlawful surveillance actually occurred.
For now, Remulla’s challenge is clear: if there was police harassment during the warrant operation, show the evidence.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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