Philippine court orders Sara Duterte’s arrest over threats against Marcos Jr.

A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte in a case arising from threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court found probable cause to try Duterte on three counts of grave threats, according to the Department of Justice. The order came after the court rejected her request to delay or revoke it. A scanned copy published by GMA indicated bail of 120,000 Philippine pesos, about $1,900, for each charge.

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I told him that if they kill me, he should kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. It’s no joke. It’s no joke.

Duterte made the remarks at the end of 2024, saying she had hired someone to kill Marcos, Araneta and Romualdez if she died first. “I told him that if they kill me, he should kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. It’s no joke. It’s no joke,” she said, according to ABS-CBN.

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The executive respects the court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte on three counts of grave threats.

The presidential office said it respected the court’s decision. Justice Department spokesman Polo Martinez also said the department respected the ruling and reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law.

The case is another escalation in the rupture between the country’s two dominant political dynasties. Duterte and Marcos allied for the 2022 election and won decisively, but they broke relations in 2024 after Duterte resigned as education secretary and left the government. She also faces an impeachment trial in the Senate. A verdict expected before the end of the year could remove her from office and end her bid for the 2028 presidential race.

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The Department respects the court’s ruling and reaffirms its commitment to the rule of law.