Spox: Sara Duterte to attend Friday arraignment for grave threats case

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte will personally attend her arraignment on Friday morning over three counts of grave threats, her spokesperson said.

In a message on Thursday, Duterte’s spokesperson, lawyer Paolo Panelo Jr., confirmed with the Inquirer that Duterte will be arraigned at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 at 8:30 am on Friday, Sept. 10.

Panelo said, “as required by law,” the vice president will be physically present in her arraignment.

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READ: Sara Duterte posts bail: I don’t trust the court

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In the arraignment, Duterte will be formally informed of the charges against her and asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

Duterte had earlier posted P360,000 bail for the three counts of grave threats, but expressed distrust in the court, police, and even the security personnel assigned to protect her.

The vice president’s criminal case stem from remarks she made during an online press conference on Nov. 23, 2024.

There, she said she had spoken to someone about killing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. 

Duterte has denied the allegations. The same remarks also form part of the impeachment case against her pending before the Senate. /mr