Sara Duterte posts bail in grave threats case; mugshot not taken

Vice President Sara Duterte voluntarily surrendered and posted bail on Saturday, a day after an arrest warrant was issued against her for grave threats. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 had issued the warrant on Friday, finding probable cause to hold Duterte for trial on three counts of grave threats. The case stems from Duterte's November 2024 remarks where she stated she had ordered a person to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta Marcos, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed. Bail was set at P200,000 for each count, totaling P600,000. Duterte's legal counsel confirmed her voluntary appearance and the subsequent lifting of the arrest warrant after bail was posted. However, the Vice President was not subjected to the standard mugshot process typically conducted during arrests. Instead, her camp submitted photographs of her to the court. "A mugshot is only taken by police when a person is arrested. Again, the Vice President voluntarily appeared," said Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim, Duterte's counsel, explaining the exemption. Lim added that Duterte underwent standard booking procedures, including fingerprinting, stating, "It included all the usual steps, such as taking her picture and fingerprints. There was no special treatment—she submitted all the requirements and posted bail." The court order lifting the warrant acknowledged receipt of four sets of photos showing Duterte from the left, right, and front. Duterte's camp intends to continue challenging the court's jurisdiction over the case, even as proceedings advance. "Of course, while the trial is ongoing here, we will continue to question the court’s jurisdiction. Again, we are awaiting the Supreme Court’s action," Lim told reporters. The Department of Justice had filed the three counts of grave threats against Duterte in early August. Duterte had previously filed a motion to quash the charges on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that as an impeachable officer, she possesses limited procedural immunity from criminal prosecution while in office. The DOJ denied this motion for lack of merit. "Regardless of the question on jurisdiction, she has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies," Lim stated previously. Duterte's alleged grave threats against Marcos and other officials are also cited in one of the Articles of Impeachment being heard by the Senate impeachment court. Source: GMA News Philippines