Philippine Vise President Duterte has posted bail following an arrest order related to alleged serious threats

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail on Saturday following a trial court's order for her arrest on three counts of grave threats related to remarks she made concerning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady, and a former House speaker.

The arrest order signifies a significant intensification of Duterte’s legal challenges, as she is concurrently undergoing an impeachment trial in the Senate. Should this process culminate in a conviction, it could result in her removal from office and jeopardize her aspirations for the 2028 presidential election.


It marks the most recent development in an ongoing rivalry among the leading political families in the Philippines. In 2022, Marcos and Duterte, both offspring of former presidents, forged an alliance that enabled them to ascend to power, only to part ways in 2024.

Dressed in black and flanked by numerous police officers, Duterte expressed to reporters outside the court that she felt unsafe and accused the authorities of harassment. She claimed the case involved the president, the first lady, and Marcos' cousin, which intensified her fears. "If I post bail, the harassment will continue. If I don’t post bail, I will be taken to the police. I lack trust in the police and the courts. I do not feel safe at all," Duterte expressed.

She inquired about who would be responsible “if I die tonight,” expressing concern that the police would merely “wash their hands and label it an accident.”

The police treated Vice President with the respect she deserved, stated Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla when asked to comment on Duterte’s remarks. “It’s quite regrettable that the pressures in her life are influencing her perspective,” Remulla stated in a phone message.

Marcos' office has yet to provide a response to a request for comment regarding Duterte's remarks about her safety. The office announced on Friday that it would adhere to any decision or order issued by the court.

The court established probable cause to proceed with the trial of Duterte on all three charges and determined bail at 120,000 pesos ($1,900) for each count.

The case originates from a November 2024 online press conference where Duterte claimed to have communicated with an assassin, instructing him to eliminate Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin, then-Speaker Martin Romualdez, should anything happen to her. She has refuted any claims of threatening them.

The purported threats are also included in the impeachment complaint against her. Duterte is also confronted with accusations of misusing public funds during her time as vice president and as education secretary, allegations that she firmly denies.