THE trial for three counts of grave threats against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin on Thursday, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) said.
Duterte was charged with three counts of grave threats in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, over her November 2024 statements saying she had arranged for someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez if something happened to her. Prosecutors argued that these statements constituted criminal threats, while Duterte’s defense disputed this.
RTC Branch 98 has scheduled the hearing for 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 20, following the filing by prosecutors of their opposition to Duterte’s urgent omnibus motion to block an arrest warrant against her.
The court issued the order on Aug. 17 after receiving the prosecution’s comment/opposition to Duterte’s Aug. 11 motion.
Duterte, through her lawyers, said that the case raises issues with “serious, far-reaching and dangerous consequences” for the country’s legal system and the stability of the government.
Her camp stressed that she is a sitting vice president and an impeachable officer, citing the 1987 Constitution.
The defense asked the court to hear oral arguments on its motion, invoking the Revised Guidelines for Continuous Trial of Criminal Cases under a.m. 15-06-10-SC.
The prosecution subsequently filed its opposition on Aug 17, prompting the court to set the matter for hearing.
The Aug. 20 proceedings will focus on Duterte’s request to defer or recall the issuance of an arrest warrant and to quash the information filed against her.
The court’s order did not rule on the merits of Duterte’s motion. Instead, it directed the parties to appear for oral arguments before the court considers the pending requests.
