Philippine VP Sara Duterte posts bail over death threat against Ferdinand Marcos

On Saturday, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail at a Manila courthouse, following an arrest warrant issued for allegedly making a death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos and his family. The warrant was issued last month, stemming from a grave threats charge during a late-night news briefing, where Duterte claimed she had hired a hitman to kill Marcos, his wife, and a cousin congressman if she were to be killed first. She later claimed the comments were misconstrued.

The alleged assassination threat is also a central element in her ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate, where a guilty verdict could result in her removal from office and a permanent ban from politics. Duterte voluntarily appeared before the court that issued the warrant, so no arrest was necessary. Her lawyer, Lawrence Lim, stated that Duterte feared for her life and was concerned about police harassment.

Under Philippine law, a criminal conviction on the grave threats charge carries a potential six-month jail term. Duterte's legal team maintains she had no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all legal remedies. The Justice Department has rejected her argument that she cannot be prosecuted for offenses tied to her impeachment. Duterte was impeached in May on charges of graft and corruption. If found guilty in the Senate trial, her planned 2028 presidential run would be over.