MANILA — Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte later stated she was not threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but was expressing concern for her own safety. She denied the charges against her. Paul Laurence Lim, a lawyer for Duterte, stated in a statement that she has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies. A Philippine justice department spokesman confirmed the arrest warrant and rejected the argument that Duterte cannot be prosecuted while her conduct is being examined in her impeachment trial. The Philippine Department of Justice said it respects the Quezon City court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against Duterte and reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law.

The Philippine presidential office stated it respects the decision of the court to issue the arrest warrant. The court held oral arguments on Duterte's motion to quash on the ground of jurisdiction in late August 2026. A conviction on the criminal charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Why It Matters

Duterte plans to seek the presidency in the 2028 elections. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s six-year term ends in 2028. Recent surveys show Duterte is the top preferred candidate by Filipinos to succeed Marcos. Philippine law typically allows candidates to run for public office even if they face pending criminal charges.

Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the 2022 elections. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expanded defense engagements with the United States. Duterte is a Vice President of the Philippines since 2022.

Timeline

Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the 2022 elections on May 9, 2022. Duterte stated during the November 2024 press conference that she already talked to someone and told him that if she is killed, he should kill Marcos, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez, adding that she already gave orders and told them not to stop until they are dead, and that the person said yes, on November 1, 2024.

The charges stem from remarks Duterte made during a November 2024 online news conference on November 1, 2024. The Philippine House of Representatives impeached Duterte in May 2026 on May 1, 2026. The impeachment charges included alleged unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential state funds, and threats against President Marcos, his wife, and Martin Romualdez on May 1, 2026. The Philippine Senate opened Duterte's impeachment trial in July 2026 on July 1, 2026.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Vice President Duterte on September 4, 2026, charging her with grave threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on September 4, 2026. The arrest warrant charges Duterte with publicly threatening to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated on September 4, 2026.

What's New

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Vice President Duterte on September 4, 2026, charging her with grave threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte stated during the November 2024 press conference that she already talked to someone and told him that if she is killed, he should kill Marcos, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez, adding that she already gave orders and told them not to stop until they are dead, and that the person said yes.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 found probable cause to hold Duterte for trial on all three counts of grave threats and ordered the issuance of the arrest warrant. Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to disclose the Office of the President's use of confidential and intelligence funds, citing P18.2 billion spent from 2023 to 2026.

Duterte's lawyer, Paul Laurence Lim, stated that Duterte has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies.