MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday that she does not feel safe following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her over three counts of grave threats, claiming she has faced documented threats and harassment since 2023.

In a chance interview a day after the warrant was issued, Duterte said she fears for the safety of her children and believes her own security is also at risk.

“I have documented threats and harassment since 2023. I fear for my children. I do not feel they are safe if I am with them,” she said.

“Umalis na nga ako kung nasaan mga anak ko para pumunta sa korte pero pumunta pa rin ang pulis. I do not feel safe. Pakiramdam ko papatayin nila ako,” she added.

Duterte also expressed distrust in the court, saying, “Wala nga akong tiwala sa korte.”

The statement came a day after Duterte did not appear before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court despite the issuance of the warrant against her.

QC RTC Branch 98, presided over by Judge Maria Angelica De Ramos, found probable cause to hold Duterte for trial on three counts of grave threats and ordered the issuance of the arrest warrant. 

The court set bail at PHP120,000 for each count.

Department of Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the court also denied Duterte’s motion seeking to defer or recall the warrant and to quash the information filed against her.

“The Department of Justice notes the resolution issued today, 04 September 2026, by Branch 98 of RTC (Regional Trial Court) of Quezon City denying the Motion by the accused Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to defer or recall the warrant of arrest against her in the criminal case for grave threats,” Martinez said in a message to reporters.

“In the same Resolution, the Court found probable cause to hold the accused for trial on all three counts of grave threats and ordered the issuance of a warrant of arrest,” he added.

Martinez said the DOJ respects the court’s ruling and would continue to uphold the rule of law as the case moves forward.

“The case shall now proceed to trial. As a matter of procedure, warrants of arrest are transmitted directly by the Court to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for implementation,” he added.

Police presence at the courthouse increased following the issuance of the warrant. Additional personnel were deployed to the QC Regional Trial Court, while a backdrop for mugshots was also brought into the premises in anticipation of Duterte’s possible arrival.

Duterte had not voluntarily appeared before the court as of 6 p.m. Friday. Additional police personnel and Branch 98 staff were later seen leaving the courthouse that evening.

Duterte’s lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, meanwhile, said the Vice President would continue to face the proceedings through available legal remedies.

“Regardless of the question on jurisdiction, she has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies,” Lim said.

The grave threats case stemmed from statements Duterte made publicly in which she said she had contracted an individual to assassinate President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot against her succeeded.

The DOJ filed the charges in early August. Duterte later moved to quash the case, arguing that her status as an impeachable official gave her limited procedural immunity from criminal prosecution while in office under the 1987 Constitution.

The DOJ maintained that her arguments lacked merit, saying presidential immunity applies only to the president as chief executive and does not extend to the vice president.

Malacañang said it respects the court’s action.

“Ginagalang ng Palasyo ang anumang desision o kautusan ng korte,” Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said in a statement.

The allegations involving Duterte’s statements against Marcos and other officials are also cited in one of the Articles of Impeachment in the ongoing proceedings against her before the Senate impeachment court.