Philippine court orders arrest of VP Duterte over President Marcos threats

What the report says

A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with allegations that she threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and a cousin killed. According to Al Jazeera, the warrant was issued by a court in Quezon City, near Manila, after judges turned down her lawyers’ request to delay action. The case adds another legal problem for Duterte, who is already fighting impeachment proceedings that could remove her from office.

The charges stem from remarks Duterte made in November 2024, when she said she had arranged for a hitman to kill Marcos, his wife and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed. She has said the comments reflected fear for her own safety after her relationship with Marcos collapsed. Her lawyer said she will use all legal remedies and does not intend to avoid the law, while a justice department spokesman defended the warrant and rejected the argument that the criminal case should wait until the impeachment process ends.

Al Jazeera reported that bail was set for each of three “grave threat” charges filed last month, and officials expect Duterte to post it quickly. A conviction on the criminal case could bring up to six months in jail, though the political consequences may be much greater. The House impeachment case also includes corruption and unexplained wealth allegations, and the Senate trial has been underway for weeks. Duterte and Marcos were elected as allies in 2022 before their relationship deteriorated. Duterte is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is in ICC custody in The Hague.