Sara Duterte's Trust Issues with Judiciary Spark Disbarment Talk

Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent public declaration of distrust in the Philippine judiciary has drawn sharp criticism, with a lawmaker pointing out the contradiction with her family's stance that former President Rodrigo Duterte should face trial in the country instead of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Manila Rep. Joel Chua stated that Duterte’s actions, including a past incident where she assaulted a sheriff, coupled with her recent distrust in the courts, could warrant disciplinary action for lawyers. "Well, first of all, I do not know why she would say that she doesn’t trust the court here, while when her father was being brought to the Hague for his trial, they said that the justice system in the Philippines is functioning, and that if her father has to be tried, it should be done here in the country," Chua remarked, highlighting the conflicting statements. Last Friday, an arrest order was issued against the Vice President for three counts of grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. She later posted bail, telling reporters, "I do not feel safe. I do not trust the court. I do not trust the police." This statement followed her remarks in a November 2024 briefing where she said she had instructed someone to kill the President, First Lady, and Speaker if she herself were killed. Chua suggested that such sweeping statements against the judiciary by a high-ranking official are unbecoming and could be grounds for disbarment. The camp of former President Duterte has repeatedly questioned the ICC's jurisdiction, insisting the former leader should be released unconditionally. Information Source: Inquirer NewsInfo