Vice President Sara Duterte is set to personally appear in court on Friday for her arraignment over three counts of grave threats filed by the Department of Justice.
Defense spokesman Michael Poa said Duterte’s presence is required so she can formally enter her plea before the court. The arraignment marks the next step in the criminal proceedings, moving the cases from filing and bail into the stage where the accused is officially called to answer the charges.
The cases involve alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte had earlier posted ₱360,000 bail, allowing her provisional liberty while the cases proceed.
For Duterte’s camp, the court appearance shows that the Vice President is submitting to the legal process rather than avoiding it. But politically, the moment remains explosive: a sitting Vice President is now facing criminal charges tied to the country’s top political figures, while her legal battles continue to unfold in full public view.
The real test now shifts to the courtroom, where the case will have to move beyond political noise and be tested through pleadings, evidence, and procedure.
Image from INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE