Go on Duterte arrest order: The timing is suspect; why only now?

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go said he is puzzled by the timing of the arrest warrant issued against Vice President Sara Duterte over her cases of grave threats.

“I’m just puzzled by the timing. Why now when the deliberations here are ongoing?” Go said in an ambush interview with Senate reporters on Friday.

“Didn’t it happen almost two years ago already? Given the length of time that has passed, why is it being released now? Why was it only filed at this time?” he wondered.

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“The timing (is suspect), considering that there is an ongoing impeachment,” he noted.

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According to Go, who also sits as a senator-judge, the impeachment court has just finished deliberating on the first article presented by the prosecution team against the vice president.

This part involved the same allegation of grave threats, while the presentation for the next article concerning confidential funds is still ongoing.

“That’s all. There’s just this question that keeps nagging at me. Why now? Why this kind of timing?” Go asked.

Go made the statement when asked about the warrant of arrest issued against the vice president by the Quezon City Regional Trial court on Friday.

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Duterte’s grave threats case was in relation to her statements in an online press conference in November 2024.

In this forum, she said that she had instructed a person to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she would be assassinated.

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The warrant, dated Sept. 4, was issued after the court found probable cause to hold Duterte for trial on all three counts of grave threats, with bail set at P120,000 for each count, for a total of P360,000.

Asked whether the warrant could be seen as a form of pressure against Duterte, Go declined to comment, saying the matter is already before the court.

“It’s now a matter in court. We have courts that we follow. We also have our own process here. Impeachment is different from a court proceeding,’ the senator said.

Asked again how Duterte might handle the arrest, Go said, “Vice President Duterte is used to situations like these… She can handle it. I believe she can.”

Meanwhile, Go also declined to comment on the possibility of Duterte undergoing the same booking and mugshot procedures just like other arrested persons.

“I have no further comment on the procedures,” Go said.

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The senator, a known ally of the Duterte family, said he is sure that Duterte’s lawyers are preparing to pursue all legal remedies available to her. /apl