Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte posted bail on Saturday after a trial court ordered her arrest on three counts of grave threats linked to comments she made about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the first lady and a former House speaker. The arrest order marks an escalation in Duterte’s legal troubles as she also faces an impeachment trial in the Senate, a process that, if it ends in conviction, could remove her from office and derail her 2028 presidential bid.
Factions clash in the capital
It is the latest step in a feud between the dominant Philippine political dynasties. Marcos and Duterte, both the children of long-time presidents, formed an alliance in 2022 that allowed them to sweep to power before they broke with each other in 2024. The charges stem from a November 2024 online press conference in which Duterte said she had spoken with an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin, then-Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she herself were killed. She has denied threatening them.
The court found probable cause to try Duterte on all three counts and set bail at 120,000 pesos (US$1,900 or RM7,738) per count. Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla defended the police presence outside the court, stating that the vice president received the respect due to her office. “It’s very unfortunate that all the pressure in her life is affecting her perception,” Remulla said in a phone message. These comments came as Duterte faced simultaneous legal challenges regarding public funds while serving as education secretary, allegations she firmly rejects.
Fear of safety and accountability
Dressed in black and surrounded by dozens of police officers, Duterte told reporters outside the court that she did not feel safe and accused authorities of harassment. She argued that the case involved the president, the first lady, and a Marcos cousin, which heightens her fears. “If I post bail, the harassment won’t stop. If I don’t post bail, I’ll be taken to the police,” she said. “I have no trust in the police, I have no trust in the courts. I do not feel safe at all.”
Duterte asked who would be held accountable if she dies tonight, suggesting that police would simply “wash their hands and call it an accident.” Her comments reflect a deep distrust of law enforcement institutions amid the escalating political conflict. While Marcos’ office said it would respect any court decision, it did not immediately respond to her specific claims about her personal safety. The concurrent impeachment proceedings have intensified the pressure on Duterte, adding further complexity to the ongoing political rivalry.
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