MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte did not appear before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Friday despite the issuance of a warrant for her arrest over three counts of grave threats.

QC RTC Branch 98, presided over by Judge Maria Angelica De Ramos, found probable cause to hold Duterte for trial and ordered the issuance of the arrest warrant. The court set bail at PHP120,000 for each count.

Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Polo Martinez said the court also rejected 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 remains committed to the rule of law.

“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.

Additional police personnel were deployed to the QC Regional Trial Court after the warrant was issued. A backdrop used for taking mugshots was also brought into the court in anticipation of Duterte’s possible arrival.

Duterte, however, had not voluntarily appeared before the court as of 6 p.m. Friday.

Additional police forces and personnel from Branch 98 were later seen leaving the court premises that evening, according to the report.

Duterte’s counsel, Paul Lawrence Lim, said the Vice President would not evade the legal process and would continue pursuing available 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 charges were filed by the DOJ in early August following Duterte’s public statements that 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.

Duterte subsequently sought to quash the case on jurisdictional grounds. She argued that, as an impeachable official, she has limited procedural immunity from criminal prosecution while in office under the 1987 Constitution.

The DOJ said the court found her motion to lack merit.

The department has maintained that 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 decision.

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

The allegations also form part of Duterte’s ongoing impeachment proceedings before the Senate impeachment court. Her alleged threats against Marcos and other officials are cited in one of the Articles of Impeachment against her.