Online Trolls Target QC Judge

The Quezon City judge who issued the arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte is now being targeted by trolls online.

Videos and images of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 98 Judge Maria Angelica De Ramos are circulating on social media platforms, including Facebook pages dedicated to supporters of the Vice President.

Several posts have already drawn thousands of angry reactions, with many comments specifically targeting and disparaging the judge.

In addition to baseless allegations of corruption, trolls have also commented on the judge’s appearance and supposed ties with President Marcos.

Duterte’s allies and supporters, including former Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon, have repeatedly pointed out that it was Marcos who appointed De Ramos to her post.

Members of the judiciary, despite being appointed by the executive, commit to independence and impartiality in carrying out their duties.

Under the existing process for judicial appointments, the President makes the appointment based on the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), an independent body that screens and vets nominees for vacant positions in the judiciary and other legal offices.

Records showed that De Ramos was among seven nominees shortlisted by the JBC for Branch 98 in July 2024. She was appointed in March 2025.

Security tightened 

Police have tightened security in Metro Manila in anticipation of possible rallies by Duterte supporters.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano, National Capital Region Police Office director, said they have a contingency plan in place should Duterte’s supporters go on the streets to protest the cases against the Vice President.

“We are ready to implement crowd control measures to ensure public safety and maintain peace and order,” Abrahano said in a message on Viber.

While they are expecting Duterte’s sympathizers to gather, he said they have not monitored any movements as of yesterday.

Personnel from the Quezon City Police District have secured the Quezon City RTC which issued the warrant of arrest against Duterte for three counts of grave threat in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said the justice department has a strong case against Duterte.

“The memorandum circular of the Department of Justice is clear that anything that will be filed to the court, the threshold is now the reasonable certainty of conviction,” Matibag said.

The NBI filed the complaints before the justice department against Duterte which stemmed from her online press briefing in November 2024, wherein she stated that she had hired someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez in the event she is killed. – With an additional report from Emmanuel Tupas