VP Sara Posts P360,000 Bail For Grave Threats Case

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday, Sept. 5, posted P360,000 bail for three counts of grave threats directed at President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez, evading possible arrest that she claimed would have exposed her to harassment or worse.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 presiding judge Maria Angelica De Ramos lifted the arrest warrant she issued last Friday after Duterte showed up at the Quezon City Hall of Justice accompanied by her lawyers and supporters to post bail.

“My lawyers advised me to post bail so that I could be protected by the public when they see me outside, rather than go with the police and be hidden away. The public wouldn’t know what would happen to me inside,” Duterte told the reporters.

Before entering the court to post bail, Duterte demanded that she be accompanied by the media, citing life-threatening concerns.

“These police personnel have been harassing me since 2023, conducting surveillance and following me,” she said. “I do not feel safe.”

Her lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, said Duterte skipped mugshots by submitting her own photos to the court.

“The mugshots are taken by the police only when an arrest has been made. Again, the Vice President voluntarily appeared before the court,” Lim said.

“These are pictures supplied by the Vice President herself. Her pictures were taken and submitted, along with the certification needed,” he said. “She was not given special treatment. She had to go through the same (booking) process, like the fingerprints,” he added.

“Without prejudice to jurisdictional issues, the Vice President posted bail directly with the RTC Quezon City, Br. 98, which was the assigned weekend court,” Lim said in a joint statement with two other Duterte lawyers, Michael Poa and Clifford Chua.

“After receiving all bail requirements, the court issued an order lifting the arrest warrant. We thank everyone for their patience, professionalism and support today,” they added.

Quezon City Police District Public Information Officer Maj. Jennifer Ganaban said there was nothing wrong with Duterte not having mugshot, because she “voluntarily surrendered” to the court.

“Since there was no arrest by law enforcement, and VP went straight to the court, we will follow the process as dictated by the court,” Ganaban said. “Now that she has bailed to the court, the warrant has been lifted and she will not be in the custody of the Philippine National Police.”

Ganaban clarified that the police presence around the Hall of Justice was meant to secure the area, as crowds had been expected to gather for Duterte. 

She emphasized that only court officers and their security were present when the Vice President underwent booking procedures. 

Former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, a Duterte supporter, arrived at the RTC – but purportedly to check on the progress of a case involving him and not to demonstrate support for the Vice President.

The QCPD said it could not confirm the claims of Duterte that the Philippine National Police attempted to arrest her in her home or through her family.

Duterte said she would always carry a copy of the court’s release order, claiming there had been cases of police disregard for such order.

Malacañang, meanwhile, defended the PNP from Duterte’s allegations of harassment, saying it fully trusts the institution, which performs its mandate “in accordance with the law” and “without bias and politics.”

“We also would like to remind everyone that this administration will not allow the police to be weaponized for any form of violence,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a statement.

“They (police) remain professional in caring for the rights of everyone under its protection. This administration fully trusts the leadership of the PNP and its personnel,” Castro said.

She stressed that doubts or complaints against the actions of the police may be addressed through legal means, not through “baseless talk.”  

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also defended the PNP, saying pressures the Vice President is dealing with may have led her into thinking the police are out to hurt her and her family.

“It is very unfortunate that all the pressure in her life is affecting her perception. The PNP accorded her all the respect her position deserves,” Remulla said in a statement.

Remulla said police serving arrest warrants have body cameras to ensure against violation of human rights.

He revealed they already had information Friday night regarding the whereabouts of Duterte but opted not to force the warrant on her.

For his part, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Duterte has not reported to the police any threat to her life or to the safety of her family, that she claimed dates back to 2023.

“The PNP remains open to receiving any document, report or statement concerning the reported threats,” Nartatez said in a statement. 

He emphasized his office is always ready to verify and validate supposed threats against Duterte if these are reported.

Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines said that while the issuance of arrest warrant against Duterte was a welcome development, it was also a demonstration of inequality in the country’s justice system.

The coalition’s spokesperson, Patricia Fox, said an ordinary bomb joke would mean immediate arrest and punishment for ordinary Filipinos, unlike Duterte’s case which took more than a year before a warrant was issued.

“There must be no special treatment for the Duterte family and no political accommodation at the expense of justice,” she said in a statement. – With additional reports from Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tupas and Alexis Romero