MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte appeared at the Quezon City Hall of Justice on Saturday and posted bail in the grave threats case against her, saying she would rather remain under civilian protection than be placed in police custody.
Duterte arrived at the court a day after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued a warrant for her arrest on three counts of grave threats. The court found probable cause to hold her for trial and set bail at ₱120,000 for each count, or ₱360,000 in total.
The vice president’s decision came amid repeated statements that she does not feel safe around police personnel.
In a statement released as she arrived at the Hall of Justice, Duterte said she had documented threats and harassment dating back to 2023 and expressed concern for the safety of her children.
She also questioned whether she would be safer if placed under police custody.
According to reports, Duterte’s lawyers advised her to post bail rather than remain in police custody, where she could have been held following the arrest warrant.
Duterte says she does not feel safe
Duterte’s concerns about her safety became a central issue as she went to court.
She told reporters that she did not feel safe with police personnel and asked members of the media to accompany her as she left, reflecting her stated distrust of law enforcement.
Philstar and Inquirer likewise reported that Duterte said she feared for her life and the safety of her children.
The remarks came as police personnel were deployed around the Quezon City Hall of Justice following the issuance of the arrest warrant.
GMA News reported that additional police officers were requested to secure the courthouse. Duterte’s appearance, however, was for the legal process surrounding her bail rather than a finding that she was guilty of the charges.
Why was Duterte arrested?
The case stems from remarks Duterte made during an online press conference in November 2024.
During that appearance, she said she had spoken to an individual and instructed that person to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot against her succeeded.
Duterte has disputed the characterization of her remarks as an actual threat, saying they were taken out of context and that she was discussing an alleged threat to her own security.
The Department of Justice subsequently filed three counts of grave threats against her.
The Quezon City court later rejected Duterte’s attempt to have the case dismissed on jurisdictional grounds and found probable cause to proceed with the criminal case.
Importantly, the issuance of an arrest warrant does not mean Duterte has been found guilty. The court’s determination at this stage is that there is probable cause to hold her for trial.
Duterte’s lawyers: She will face the case
Despite the confrontation over her arrest, Duterte’s legal team has said she has no intention of evading the law.
Her lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim said she would continue to pursue available legal remedies while facing the proceedings.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla also said Duterte’s lawyers had received the arrest warrant and intended to post bail as soon as possible.
That ultimately happened Saturday.
Reuters reported that Duterte posted bail after appearing before the trial court, while AP likewise confirmed that she paid ₱360,000, corresponding to the ₱120,000 bail set for each of the three charges.
The case adds pressure to Duterte’s political battle
The criminal case is unfolding alongside Duterte’s ongoing impeachment proceedings before the Senate.
Her alleged statements concerning Marcos, his wife and Romualdez also form part of the allegations cited in the impeachment case against her.
The two proceedings are legally separate: the criminal case is being handled by the regular courts, while the impeachment proceedings are a constitutional accountability process before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
The arrest warrant therefore adds another major legal challenge for Duterte as her political conflict with Marcos continues.
Reuters described the development as another escalation in the feud between the two political families, who were allies during the 2022 elections before their relationship dramatically deteriorated.
What happens next?
With bail posted, Duterte avoids remaining in police custody while the criminal proceedings continue.
The court case itself, however, is far from over.
Duterte still has the opportunity to contest the allegations and present her defenses as the proceedings move forward. At the same time, her impeachment case remains a separate and potentially consequential battle that could affect her political future, including her reported ambitions for the 2028 presidential election.
For now, the immediate confrontation over whether Duterte would be taken into police custody has been resolved through bail.
But her repeated claim that she does not feel safe around law enforcement—and her decision to publicly seek protection outside police custody—could become another major flashpoint in an already deepening political and legal crisis.
The bigger question now is what comes next for the vice president as both her criminal case and impeachment proceedings continue.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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