FACT CHECK: No lockdown in Malacañang after court ordered VP Sara’s arrest

No credible reports confirm that barricades and barbed wire were installed around Malacañang due to the issuance of Duterte's arrest warrant, contrary to the claim

AT A GLANCE

• Malacañang was falsely reported to be under lockdown following an arrest warrant issued against Vice President Sara Duterte.
• The claim gained significant attention on social media, but credible sources confirm that no lockdown or barricades were implemented at Malacañang.
• The arrest warrant was issued due to alleged grave threats made by Duterte, and she posted bail shortly after while expressing concerns for her safety.

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Claim: Malacañang was placed under lockdown following the issuance of an arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Rating: FALSE 

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim has already received 648,000 views, 26,000 reacts, 2,600 shares, and 1,400 comments as of writing. It was posted on September 6, days after a Quezon City trial court issued an arrest warrant against the Vice President. 

The video shows a photo of Duterte on her arrival at the Quezon City court to post bail. Images of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his mother Imelda Marcos, and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos can also be seen in the video’s graphics. 

The narrator of the Facebook reel says, “Sa kabila po ng pag-aresto kay VP Sara, nag-lockdown ang Malacañang. Opo, nagkaroon na naman po ng barikada, ng mga barbed wire ang Malacañang, mga kababayan, kasunod ng pag-aresto kay VP Sara, kasunod ng paglabas ng warrant of arrest kay VP Sara.”

(Following the arrest of VP Sara, Malacañang went into lockdown. Yes, barricades and barbed wires have once again been set up at Malacañang following the arrest of VP Sara, following the issuance of the arrest warrant against her.)

Some Facebook users believed the claim. One comment reads, “Lumalabas na sila takot. For the first time, siya lang nag lockdown na Presidente.”

(It turns out they are afraid. For the first time, he was the only president to impose a lockdown).

The facts: Malacañang has not imposed a lockdown following the issuance of Duterte’s arrest warrant on September 4 and her posting of bail on September 5. No credible reports confirm that barricades and barbed wire have been installed around the area. 

The Palace has previously implemented heightened security measures due to rallies such as the September 2025 and November 2025 anti-corruption rallies as well as the July 2026 protest by the United People’s Initiative. 

More recently, police conducted a simulation exercise and installed metal barricades and razor wire on roads leading to the Malacañang Complex as preparation for National Heroes Day activities on August 31.

Following the issuance of Duterte’s arrest warrant, several supporters gathered at the Quezon City court on September 5 and on September 11 for her arraignment, which was later deferred.

Grave threats case: The warrant of arrest against Duterte was issued after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 found probable cause to hold the Vice President for trial on three counts of grave threats. 

The case stemmed from Duterte’s November 2024 warning that she allegedly hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Vice President posted bail of P360,000 — P120,000 for each count. 

On the same day she posted bail, Duterte said that she does not feel safe, citing previous alleged security threats. “I do not feel safe. I do not feel safe anywhere. Pumunta lang ako [rito] kasi sabi ninyo pupunta ako sa court (I only went here because you told me I needed to appear in court),” she said. 

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told the media that they accorded Duterte the respect “that her position deserves.” He added, “We have all the body cam footages of her warrants being served. We have all the body cam footages of her arrival to post bail.”

Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked similar false claims about the Vice President:

• FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte not in handcuffs for grave threats arrest; circulating photo is altered 
• FACT CHECK: No, Malabon congressman Oreta did not wish for Sara Duterte’s death
• FACT CHECK: Escudero didn’t say prosecution ‘fabricated’ allegations vs VP Sara

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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