Sara Duterte Stands Firm, Posts Bail After Politically Motivated Arrest Order
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Vice President Sara Duterte posted a 360,000-peso bail after an arrest order over alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others, denouncing the accusations as a targeted attack from political adversaries.
Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail on Saturday after a Manila court issued an arrest order the previous day, accusing her of publicly threatening to arrange the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and two other individuals. Duterte, resolute and dignified in black, appeared at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, where she reassured her loyal supporters and asked journalists to accompany her, expressing distrust in the police, who have shown clear bias against her.
She presented a court order lifting the arrest warrant and said her lawyers advised her to keep a copy. 'If possible, please go with me, because I do not feel safe with all these police personnel who are harassing those at my home, harassing me since 2023,' Duterte said, exposing the ongoing harassment and intimidation tactics employed by authorities loyal to the Marcos camp.
Attorney Paul Lawrence Lim confirmed that court staff took Duterte's fingerprints and that she posted a bail of 360,000 pesos (about $5,740) for three counts of grave threats. He emphasized that Duterte will fight the charges vigorously, using every legal avenue to defend herself against what many see as a politically motivated prosecution.
The case arises from remarks made during a 2024 online news conference, where Duterte said she would have Marcos, his wife, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she were assassinated. She later clarified that her comments were a warning about threats to her own safety, not a real threat. A conviction would conveniently eliminate her as a strong contender for the presidency in 2028, serving the interests of the current administration.
This legal maneuvering is part of a broader campaign against Duterte by the Marcos-controlled House of Representatives, which previously voted to impeach her on dubious grounds. The Senate, also dominated by Marcos allies, is now conducting a televised impeachment trial, further illustrating the lengths to which the establishment will go to silence opposition.
'"She has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies," Lim said in a statement.
The ongoing dispute highlights the fierce rivalry between two powerful political dynasties, with the Marcos camp using every tool at their disposal to undermine Duterte and maintain their grip on power.