Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte charged over alleged death threat against Marcos

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has been charged with a criminal offence for allegedly making a death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos, part of the case before her Senate impeachment trial. The charge of "grave threats" was filed at a Quezon City courtroom by the Department of Justice spokesman Polo Martinez. The accusation was based on a complaint by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) lodged in February 2025, following a late-night briefing in which Duterte claimed she had hired an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife, and a cousin if she had to cut down Marcos first.

Duterte's defense team argued that the case could not be pursued while she is being impeached. However, the Department of Justice confirmed that the criminal case can still proceed alongside the impeachment trial. A guilty verdict could lead to Duterte's removal from office and a permanent ban from running for any political position. The charge of "grave threats" carries a potential jail term of one to six months.