Philippine court issues arrest warrant for VP Duterte

A local court in Quezon City has issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday, charging her with three counts of grave threats. The warrant was issued by QC Regional Trial Court Branch 98, though specific details about the complainants and incidents cited in the court order were not immediately provided by local media.

The arrest warrant arrives as Duterte continues to face an impeachment trial in the Senate, where prosecutors allege misuse of funds, unexplained wealth, and misconduct during her time as vice president and former education secretary. The impeachment trial is ongoing, with prosecutors aiming to conclude the confidential-funds section by next week.

Some senators are considering revisiting the 16-vote threshold required for conviction, which could impact the trial's timeline and outcome. Duterte denies the allegations against her, labeling the impeachment effort as a political attack. Her legal team has not commented publicly on the arrest warrant, which comes amid ongoing discussions about Duterte’s prospects in the 2028 presidential race, with a recent poll indicating that seven out of ten Filipinos believe she should answer the impeachment charges.