Philippine court orders arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte over death threats

September 4, 2026 at 05:45 PM2 min

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A Philippine court on September 4 issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte over threats to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Duterte faces three charges of threats against Marcos, his wife, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, with bail set at 120,000 pesos per charge. Her lawyers plan to post bail, allowing her to remain free during trial.

Key Facts

A court in Quezon City issued the arrest warrant on September 4, 2026, for Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte faces three charges of threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Bail was set at 120,000 pesos (about 874,000 tenge) per charge, totaling 360,000 pesos (about 2.62 million tenge).
The case stems from a November 2024 online press conference where Duterte said she had contracted an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez if she were killed.
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte in May 2026, and the Senate began considering the case in July 2026.

Arrest Warrant and Charges

A Philippine court issued the arrest warrant on September 4, 2026, against Vice President Sara Duterte. The warrant stems from three charges of threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The court in Quezon City set bail at 120,000 pesos per charge, totaling 360,000 pesos. Interior Secretary said Duterte's lawyers received the warrant and plan to post bail, allowing her to remain free during trial.

Origin of the Threats

The case originates from a November 2024 online press conference where Duterte said she had contracted an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez if she were killed. Duterte stated, "This is not a joke. I have already made a deal." She later claimed she was not threatening the president but expressing concerns for her own safety. The National Bureau of Investigation referred the case to the Department of Justice in February 2025 with a recommendation to file charges.

Impeachment and Political Fallout

The House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte in May 2026, and the Senate began considering the case in July 2026. The impeachment charges include alleged financial irregularities, including misuse of public funds. If convicted, Duterte could be removed from office and permanently barred from holding public office, preventing a 2028 presidential run.