The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has formally ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with grave threats charges. The warrant was issued over statements the Vice President made against the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker of the House regarding an inquiry into confidential funds.

The legal action concerns remarks Duterte made during an online press briefing that took place in November 2024. The Vice President was physically present at the House of Representatives when these statements were delivered. She was accompanying her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, who had been detained earlier that same day after being cited for contempt during the proceedings. Lopez was protesting an order to transfer her to the Correctional Institution for Women. Meanwhile, the Vice President was slamming the President and his allies regarding an ongoing official inquiry into the use of confidential funds.

Issuance of the Warrant

Duterte’s lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim announced the issuance of the warrant, which came after her camp sought the dismissal of the case. Lim said Duterte respects the law and would seek legal remedies. “Regardless of the question on jurisdiction, she has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies,” he said in a statement.

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Bail for Duterte is set at P120,000 each for three counts of grave threats in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Under the cybercrime law, committing an offense through information and communication technologies generally means the penalty is one degree higher than the traditional equivalent.

The Statements and Defense Arguments

Duterte asserted she had spoken to someone about killing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed. This information was repeated in a subsequent press conference following the online briefing. Regarding these remarks, the Vice President questioned whether revenge from the grave could be considered a crime.

Duterte’s camp earlier contended that she cannot be prosecuted for an act that is also the subject of her ongoing impeachment trial.