Sara Duterte no-show at QC court on Friday over grave threats case

Vice President Sara Duterte failed to appear at the Quezon City (QC) Regional Trial Court on Friday following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.

QC Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued the arrest warrant over three counts of grave threats against Duterte after finding probable cause to hold the Vice President for trial.

In a “24 Oras” report by Joseph Morong, additional police forces arrived at the QC Regional Trial Court following a request made after the arrest warrant was issued.

A backdrop used for taking mugshots was also seen being brought inside the court in preparation for Duterte's possible arrival.

However, Duterte did not voluntarily appear before the court as of 6 p.m. on Friday.

Morong noted seeing the additional police forces and personnel from Branch 98 leaving the premises later that evening.

Duterte's lawyer stated that the Vice President has no intention of evading the law, adding that she will pursue all 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,” said Paul Lawrence Lim, Duterte’s counsel.

In early August, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed three counts of grave threats against the Vice President.

The charges stem from her public statements claiming she had contracted someone to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot against her succeeds.

Following this, Duterte filed a motion to quash on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that as an impeachable officer, she has limited procedural immunity from criminal prosecution while in office under the 1987 Constitution.

According to the DOJ, the court denied Duterte’s motion for lack of merit.

The court previously heard oral arguments on the motion in August.

Duterte’s alleged grave threats against Marcos and other officials is also the basis of one of the Articles of Impeachment against her in the ongoing trial before the Senate impeachment court. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News