Barricades installed around QC court ahead of Sara Duterte arraignment

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Steel barricades were installed around the Quezon City Hall of Justice Friday morning ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte's scheduled arraignment on a grave threat case.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) placed the railings to enforce rules prohibiting protests within a 200-meter radius of court buildings.

“Yun po ay security assistance po natin as requested by the Office of Judiciary Marshals,” QCPD spokesperson Police Major Jennifer Ganaban said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

(That's our security assistance as requested by the Office of Judiciary Marshals.)

“And according na rin po sa ating Supreme Court rule na ang protesters po, pickets, and rallies are prohibited within 200 meter-radius of the Supreme Court Hall of Justice, or any other building housing a court sala in the Philippines,” she added.

(And according to our Supreme Court rule that protesters, pickets, and rallies are prohibited within 200 meter-radius of the Supreme Court Hall of Justice, or any other building housing a court room in the Philippines.)

So far, authorities have not monitored any planned protests or received requests for permits for gatherings near the courthouse.

However, the QCPD still deployed Civil Disturbance Management personnel in case protesters arrived.

Ganaban clarified that Duterte's supporters were not being prevented from expressing their views but were being directed to follow existing rules to ensure public safety and orderly activities.

During the previous scheduled arraignment on September 11, supporters who sought permission to hold a protest near the courthouse were directed to Freedom Park at Quezon Memorial Circle after their permit request was not approved, according to the police.

Ganaban pointed out the need to protect courts from external pressure, intimidation, or other forms of influence.

The QCPD was also taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety of Duterte and everyone present at the courthouse, according to Ganaban.

Arraignment

Duterte's arraignment is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. It was rescheduled from September 11 after the court granted her camp's request for postponement.

Her camp has questioned the RTC's jurisdiction over the case before the Supreme Court and had sought a temporary restraining order.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on August 11 filed three counts of grave threat charges against Duterte in connection with remarks she made in an online press conference in 2024.

During the press conference, Duterte said she had already talked to someone to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to her.

On September 4, Branch 98 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant of arrest for Duterte over three counts of grave threats.

She posted bail on September 5. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA News