Critics, Dutertes react to arrest order in VP Sara's grave threats case

After Vice President Sara Duterte asked who would be held accountable if something happened to her following the issuance of an arrest warrant in her grave threats case, Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon on Saturday said she should answer for the allegations against her.

A Quezon City court issued an arrest warrant for Duterte over alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In front of the Quezon City Hall of Justice on Saturday, before posting bail, Duterte said she did not feel safe.

“I do not feel safe at all. Sinong sasagot kapag namatay ako mamayang gabi? Sinong mananagot?” she said.

(Who will be accountable if I die tonight? Who will be liable?)

“‘Sinong mananagot?’ Kayo po, Madam Vice President, ang kailangang managot at sumagot sa mga alegasyong kinakaharap ninyo. Tama na po ang drama. Wala naman pong grave threats case ngayon kung hindi dahil sa mga pahayag na naging batayan ng kasong isinampa laban sa inyo,” Ridon said in a statement.

(“Who will be accountable?” You, Madam Vice President, need to be accountable and answer for the allegations you are facing. Enough drama. There would be no grave threats case now if not for the statements that became the basis for the case filed against you.)

“Harapin po ninyo ang proseso at ilahad po ninyo ang inyong depensa sa korte,” he added.

(Face the process and present your defense in court.)

Meanwhile, ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, who spent five years in detention during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration on drug-related charges, said the issuance of the arrest warrant means the court found sufficient basis to examine the evidence against the Vice President.

“VP Sara may not be used to being held accountable, but now she must answer the accusations against her in a criminal court. Hindi na nga dapat tumagal ito (This shouldn’t have taken this long), but at least, it's finally happening,” De Lima said on Friday.

In a separate Facebook post, De Lima asked, “Bakit sila umiiwas at natatakot sa due process?”

(Why are they evading and afraid of due process?)

'Political harassment'

Duterte’s relatives in the House of Representatives defended her and criticized the arrest warrant.

“I am with VP Inday. I am a Filipino, and I don’t feel safe,” Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte said in a Facebook post after his sister posted bail.

In a separate statement, Pulong’s son, Davao City 2nd District Representative Omar Duterte, called the arrest warrant “a clear act of political harassment.”

Omar Duterte likened the case to what was done to former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court and awaiting trial on crimes against humanity charges in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.

“To the Filipino people, I ask you with all sincerity: please wake up and see what the current administration is doing,” Omar Duterte said. — VBL, GMA News