Philippine VP Duterte Posts Bail, Ex-Speaker Romualdez Arrested for Plunder

September 18, 2026 at 06:21 PM3 min

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Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail after an arrest warrant was issued over a grave threats complaint. Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was arrested for plunder in connection with a flood control kickback scandal. The arrests come as former President Rodrigo Duterte made his first in-court appearance at the International Criminal Court.

Key Facts

An arrest warrant was issued against Vice President Sara Duterte in relation to a grave threats complaint filed after she said in a 2024 video that she hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was arrested for plunder in connection with his role in the flood control kickback scandal.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte made his first trial in-court appearance after more than a year under the custody of the International Criminal Court.
Sara Duterte called for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., calling him a liar and abusive.

Duterte Arrest Warrant

The arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte stems from a grave threats complaint filed after she said in an online video in late 2024 that she hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife. Duterte posted bail to avoid arrest and called out Marcos for being ungrateful and betraying those who voted for him. In a speech delivered in front of her supporters outside a local court, Duterte said: “You’re a liar, abusive. He has no debt of gratitude to our people and everyone who went to the precincts to put him in power. He has no shame.” The case is distinct from the current impeachment trial against Duterte, although the first article presented by the prosecution also related to the threats made by the vice president against the First Family.

Romualdez Plunder Arrest

An anti-graft court ordered the arrest of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in connection with his role in the flood control kickback scandal. The arrest was cited by Palace supporters as proof that Marcos is seriously pursuing accountability, since Romualdez is his close ally and first cousin. Romualdez spent a few days in the hospital before being placed in a regular prison cell. The arrest was also seen as a move to counter the claim of Duterte’s camp that the vice president, her family, and allies were being unfairly targeted by the Marcos government. It was also timed a few weeks before the first anniversary of the massive anti-corruption protests that demanded accountability against all those implicated in the flood control controversy.

Political Implications

Arresting Romualdez was therefore a political necessity for Marcos to dispute the allegations that he was persecuting the Dutertes, boost the credibility of his government’s anti-corruption drive, and assure the public that there’s no let-up in pursuing cases against corrupt officials. As a former House speaker, Romualdez was the highest official tagged in the corruption scandal. It could ease the pressure on Marcos, who is also accused of masterminding the anomalous budget insertions. These high-profile events will continue to unfold and affect not just the Marcos presidency but also the narratives of the 2028 elections.