Sara Duterte Arraignment for Grave Threats Deferred by Quezon City Court

Vice President Sara Duterte personally appeared at the Quezon City Hall on September 11, 2026, for her arraignment on three counts of grave threats. The court deferred the proceedings amid pending legal motions and a Supreme Court petition, as public supporters rallied outside the courthouse.

Arraignment Postponed Amid Pending Legal Motions

Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Quezon City Hall of Justice on the morning of September 11, 2026, accompanied by her brother, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 formally deferred the scheduled arraignment for her three counts of grave threats.

Duterte’s legal counsel explained the decision to halt the proceedings. Hindi lang natuloy yung arraignment. Mayroong mosyon na pinag-aaralan pa yung ating kagalang-galang na hukom, lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim said outside the courtroom, adding that At habang hindi pa ito napagpapasyahan, deferred muna o suspended yung arraignment ng ating Bise Presidente, according to reporting from ABS-CBN.

While the defense declined to disclose specific arguments from the pending motion, Lim noted that the factors for the postponement include a petition filed before the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order against the criminal case.

Origins of the Charges and the Arrest Warrant

The criminal charges stem from an online press briefing held in November 2024. During the broadcast, Duterte stated that she had arranged for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to be killed if an assassination plot against her succeeded. The Department of Justice subsequently filed three counts of grave threats against her, asserting that the statements met the threshold for probable cause and a reasonable certainty of conviction.

Sara Duterte Arraignment for Grave Threats Deferred by Quezon City Court — Photo: inquirer.net

Following an arrest warrant issued by the Quezon City court on September 4, 2026, Duterte posted bail of 360,000 pesos—calculated at 120,000 pesos for each count—at a weekend court branch. Her legal team has maintained that her original remarks were taken out of context and has questioned the court’s overall jurisdiction while raising constitutional questions regarding procedural immunity for impeachable officials.

Crowds Gather Outside the Quezon City Hall of Justice

Security remained tight around the Quezon City Hall of Justice Annex as dozens of Duterte supporters gathered near the gates. Carrying banners bearing slogans such as protect VP Sara, the demonstrators chanted her name throughout the morning hours. Paul Lawrence Lim noted that the Vice President continues to face significant security concerns, having previously stated that she does not feel safe amidst ongoing political friction.

At the same time, separate legal battles unfolded across the capital. On the same week, the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed a perjury complaint that Duterte had filed against her former aide Ramil Madriaga.

Broader Impeachment Proceedings and Next Steps

The grave threats case functions as a central component of the separate impeachment trial against Duterte currently underway in the Senate. Under Philippine law, a criminal conviction on the grave threats charges carries a potential prison sentence of up to six months, while a guilty verdict in the Senate impeachment trial would result in permanent removal from office and a lifetime ban from holding public office.

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Legal analysts and observers are now watching for the Supreme Court to rule on the pending petition for a temporary restraining order, which will dictate whether the Quezon City Regional Trial Court can reschedule the arraignment and proceed toward a full trial.

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