Malacañang has stated that it defers to the authority of the judiciary following the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 98’s decision to issue a warrant of arrest against Vice President Sara Duterte regarding her ongoing grave threats case.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro articulated the administration’s stance on Friday, September 4, after queries regarding the court’s decree.
“Ginagalang ng Palasyo ang anumang desisyon o kautusan ng korte,” Castro said.
Castro previously clarified that statements indicating physical harm to an individual can be categorized as a direct threat regardless of whether they were made in earnest or humorously, particularly if such declarations induce fear or alarm in the targeted person.
She added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regards threats against his safety as severe matters that carry critical implications for national security.
The legal proceedings stem from a November 2024 virtual media conference where Duterte declared she had instructed an assassin to target President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event that she herself was assassinated.
President Marcos previously condemned the reported plot, emphasizing that any criminal acts targeted at his life require serious official action.
Duterte later acknowledged receiving official notification of the arrest warrant, which was issued by Quezon City RTC Branch 98 Presiding Judge Maria Angelica De Ramos.
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla informed reporters that the Vice President’s legal counsel is preparing to post bail at the earliest opportunity.