Court sets oral arguments on VP grave threats case

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City court has set for tomorrow the oral arguments on Vice President Sara Duterte’s motion to quash the grave threats complaint against her.

In a two-page order, Quezon City Regional Trial Court branch 98 set the oral arguments at 8:30 a.m.

The National Bureau of Investigation filed the grave threats complaints in connection with her remarks during an online press briefing in November 2024 that she had hired someone to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and his cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, should she be killed.

In May last year, Duterte called on the Department of Justice to dismiss the “false and baseless” complaints against her, saying “being accused of a criminal offense, I am constitutionally presumed innocent even in these proceedings and need not dignify the complaint with a reply, when no evidence has been shown to support it.”

Duterte, meanwhile, withdrew her request for a six-day personal trip to Japan supposedly beginning today hours after being given permission by Malacañang.

In a statement, the Palace announced Duterte’s withdrawal of her request but gave no reason for her change of mind.

But in a Facebook post last night, the Vice President lashed out at Malacañang for disclosing to the public her travel plans.

“I wish to again remind the Office of the President that the continued publication or disclosure of my schedule is a matter of serious concern, particularly as it compromises my personal security and exposes me to heightened risks,” Duterte said. — Alexis Romero