The legal counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte has formally filed a motion to quash the grave threats information submitted against her in connection with an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In an official statement released on Thursday, August 13, Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim, defense counsel for the Vice President, confirmed the strategic legal maneuver.
“We confirm having filed a motion to quash the Grave Threats Informations filed against the Vice President, on the ground of lack of jurisdiction,” Lim stated.
A motion to quash serves as an early legal challenge to test the validity of formal criminal charges before trial proceedings advance.
Among the primary procedural grounds available to defense teams is demonstrating that the presiding tribunal lacks legal jurisdiction over either the alleged offense or the accused.
Despite public interest, Duterte’s legal representatives have declined to outline the specific legal arguments contained within the filing, emphasizing their commitment to judicial propriety.
“As lawyers bound by our Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, however, we cannot give any further discussion on this matter that is now sub judice,” Lim explained.
The legal team expressed appreciation for the patience of the public and news organizations as the court evaluates the matter.
“We thank the media and the public for their understanding,” Lim added.
The latest motion places the question of court authority squarely before the tribunal, which must now rule on whether the criminal charges can legally move forward.
The filing follows an August 11 confirmation from Duterte’s defense team that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had submitted three counts of grave threats before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City.
The charges stem from alleged death threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The allegations also form a prominent centerpiece of the accusations brought against the country’s second-highest official in her active Senate impeachment trial.