MANILA, Philippines -- Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail on Saturday after a court order for her arrest was issued the previous day on charges of publicly threatening to arrange the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and two other people. Duterte emerged from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in Metro Manila wearing a black outfit and consoled supporters, including a woman who was sobbing as others chanted her name.
Duterte, who has denied the allegations, presented a court order lifting the arrest warrant and stated her lawyers advised her to keep a copy. She expressed concerns for her safety, requesting journalists accompany her to her car due to what she described as harassment from police personnel since 2023. "What does this administration really want to do with me?" she asked.
Paul Lawrence Lim, one of Duterte's attorneys, confirmed that court staff took her fingerprints and that she posted 360,000 pesos ($5,740) for three counts of grave threats. Lim stated that Duterte would contest the charges, adding that she has no intention of evading the law and will pursue all legal remedies.
The case is viewed as a significant political conflict between Duterte and Marcos. A conviction could lead to her permanent disqualification from public office and prevent her from running for president in 2028.
The charges are based on an alleged threat Duterte made during an online news conference in 2024, where she stated she would have Marcos, his wife, and then-House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez killed by an assassin if she herself were killed, amid escalating political disputes. Duterte later clarified that she was expressing concern for her own safety, not threatening Marcos, following the remarks that prompted a criminal investigation and national security concerns.
The House of Representatives, largely composed of Marcos allies, voted in May to impeach Duterte over allegations including unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential state funds, and the threats made during the online news conference. The Philippine Senate commenced her televised impeachment trial in July.
Marcos and Duterte ran together in the 2022 elections as part of an alliance that united two prominent political dynasties. Marcos is the son of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sara Duterte has previously criticized the Marcos administration for its decision to hand over her father to the International Criminal Court. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in 2025 by order of the ICC and is awaiting trial in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity related to his administration's anti-drug campaign.
Marcos and Sara Duterte also exhibit differing geopolitical stances. Marcos has strengthened defense ties with the United States while confronting China's assertive actions in the South China Sea. Duterte has faced criticism for her response to China's actions in the disputed waters.