VP Duterte camp seeks oral arguments on motion to quash grave threats cases

Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team has requested a Quezon City court to hear oral arguments on a critical jurisdictional challenge, warning that the outcome could set a precedent for the prosecution of all impeachable officials in the country.

In a statement issued Friday, defense counsel Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim announced that the team is filing a manifestation to emphasize the urgency of oral arguments on their motion to quash, citing the case's far-reaching constitutional implications.

“If a sitting Vice President may be indicted and prosecuted, then other incumbent impeachable officers—such as the Ombudsman, members of the Constitutional Commissions, Supreme Court Justices, and even the President—may also be indicted and prosecuted,” Lim stated.

Jurisdictional Challenge

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed three counts of grave threats against Duterte before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on August 11. The charges stem from an NBI investigation into her November 2024 online press conference, where she publicly stated she had arranged for the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her own death.

Duterte’s defense team is asking the RTC to dismiss the criminal information, maintaining that the court lacks jurisdiction over a sitting impeachable officer.

Arrest Rumors and Next Steps

The filing of charges sparked online speculation regarding the Vice President’s imminent arrest. However, as of August 14, no arrest warrant has been issued, nor did Lim’s statement indicate that one was expected shortly.

The proceedings remain focused on the threshold jurisdictional issue. The Quezon City RTC must rule on Duterte’s motion to quash—and decide whether to grant oral arguments—before the criminal cases can move forward.