A Philippine court has issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte over an alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos. Duterte was charged last month with 'grave threats' stemming from a late-night news briefing in which she claimed to have hired a hitman to kill the president, his wife, and a former congressman cousin should she be cut down first. The alleged threat is also a key element in her ongoing Senate impeachment trial. If convicted, Duterte could face up to six months in jail.
Legal Proceedings
Justice department spokesman Polo Martinez confirmed the issuance of the warrant, noting that a court in Quezon City, Metro Manila, had rejected a motion to defer it. However, the warrant is unlikely to result in Duterte's immediate detention. Paolo Tamase, associate dean at the University of the Philippines College of Law, explained that Duterte's lawyers are expected to file for bail, possibly before the end of the day. Tamase added that the warrant could be challenged at a higher court.
Political Implications
The arrest warrant adds another layer of complexity to Duterte's ongoing impeachment trial, which recently concluded its ninth week. A guilty verdict in the Senate would not only remove her from office but also permanently ban her from politics. This development could also affect her planned run for president in 2028, which she announced in February.
Duterte's Response
Duterte's legal team issued a statement saying she had 'no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies.' Calls to her defense lawyers seeking further comment were not returned.
Background
Duterte was impeached in May by the House of Representatives on charges that also included graft and corruption. The Senate trial is ongoing, and a guilty verdict would end her political career and her presidential ambitions.
