MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said it would seek all available legal remedies after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 98 junked its motion calling for the inhibition of the presiding judge handling the grave threats cases filed against her.
In a statement, Duterte’s legal counsel Paul Lawrence Lim confirmed receiving notice of the court’s decision.
“We confirm receiving the RTC-Quezon City, Branch 98’s order denying our motion for inhibition of the Honorable Presiding Judge,” Lim said in a statement.
Duterte accused the court of allegedly aiding the prosecution in establishing probable cause after it directed them to submit evidence that was not included in their original submission.
She likewise insisted that Presiding Judge Maria Angelica De Ramos should recuse herself as she and her son were appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the vice president’s former political ally.
The court ruled that Duterte’s claims lacked merit.
It ordered her arrest last Sept. 4, 2026, in connection with remarks she made in an online press conference in 2024, claiming that she had contracted someone to assassinate the president, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to her.
She posted bailed the next day.
“The Vice President will exercise all available remedies. We also received the court’s order requiring both parties to strictly comply with the sub judice rule and to refrain from publicly discussing the merits of the case,” Lim said.
“We will continue to comply, consistent with the Vice President’s respect for the rule of law,” he added.
