Philippine court issues warrant for VP Duterte’s arrest in grave threats case

A Philippine court has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte’s arrest over allegations that she threatened President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady and a former House speaker.

The trial court issued a warrant in a case involving three counts of grave threats and set bail at 120,000 pesos, or about $1,900, for each count. Duterte’s lawyer said she had no intention of evading the law and would continue using available legal remedies, despite questions over the court’s jurisdiction.

The case stems from remarks Duterte made in November 2024. She said she had spoken with an assassin and instructed the person to kill Marcos, his wife and his cousin, who was then speaker of the House, if she herself were killed. Duterte has denied threatening them.

The alleged threats also form part of an impeachment complaint against Duterte, who is being tried by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. A conviction could remove her as vice president and derail her planned presidential bid in 2028.

Duterte also faces accusations of misusing public funds while serving as vice president and education minister. She has denied wrongdoing.

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Regardless of the question on jurisdiction, she has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies.