THE Quezon City Regional Trial Court has deferred the scheduled arraignment of Vice President Sara Duterte on three counts of grave threats, granting her legal team’s motion to postpone the proceedings.
The decision came on Friday, September 11, shortly before Duterte was set to appear in court to hear the formal charges against her and enter her plea. The deferral means the reading of the accusations and her formal response will take place at a later date to be announced by the court.
The charges stem from remarks Duterte allegedly made in November 2024, in which she stated she had directed someone to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta‑Marcos, and then‑House speaker Martin Romualdez should anything happen to her. Duterte has since clarified that the remarks were not a genuine threat, but the Quezon City court had found probable cause to proceed with the case, issuing an arrest warrant last week which she answered by voluntarily surrendering and posting bail.
The postponement affords Duterte’s legal counsel additional time to prepare their defense and file necessary pleadings before she is required to enter a formal plea. The court is expected to issue a new schedule for the arraignment, during which the Vice President will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty to each of the three counts filed against her. The case remains separate from the ongoing impeachment proceedings in the Senate, where related allegations are also being considered.
metrosundaily
