MANILA – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 on Friday postponed the arraignment of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on three counts of grave threats after her legal team filed a motion.

Duterte arrived at the Quezon City Hall of Justice at around 8:30 a.m., accompanied by her brother, Rep. Paolo Duterte. The two briefly greeted supporters before proceeding to the court.

The development came after Duterte posted bail on Saturday following the issuance of an arrest warrant on Friday. The court set bail at PHP120,000 for each of the three counts.

The Department of Justice filed the charges on Aug. 11 in connection with Duterte’s remarks during an online press conference in 2024, when she said she had spoken to someone who would kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to her.

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

The court also denied Duterte’s motion seeking to defer or recall the warrant and to quash the information filed against her, according to DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez.

“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 respected the court’s ruling and would continue to uphold the rule of law as the case proceeds.

“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.

Duterte, however, has said she does not feel safe following the issuance of the warrant, citing documented threats and harassment against her since 2023.

In a chance interview a day after the warrant was issued, she said she was concerned for her children and her own safety.

“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.”

Her remarks came a day after she failed to appear before Branch 98 despite the arrest warrant.

Police presence at the courthouse was subsequently increased, with additional personnel deployed and a backdrop for mugshots brought into the premises in anticipation of Duterte’s possible arrival.

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

Her lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, said Duterte would continue to contest 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.

Duterte had earlier moved to quash the grave threats 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 rejected the argument, maintaining that presidential immunity applies only to the President as chief executive and does not extend to the Vice President.

Malacañang said it respected 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 grave threats allegations involving Duterte’s statements against Marcos, the First Lady and Romualdez are also cited in one of the Articles of Impeachment in the ongoing proceedings against her before the Senate impeachment court.

READ: Inday distrusts court, says she feels unsafe after arrest warrant