HOW entitled could Vice President Sara Duterte be the moment she takes the lead as Malacanang chief executive?
In what looks more like a special treatment accorded to the “powers that be,” Duterte posted bail on Saturday morning before a Quezon City court a day after a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges that she issued grave threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte, accompanied by lawyers Michael Poa and Paul Lawrence Lim, personally appeared before Branch 98 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to pay P120,000 for each of the three counts of grave threat charges.
TYPICAL PARANOIA
Upon her arrival, Duterte refused to enter the building, laying out several scenarios she feared could put her life at risk, repeatedly insinuating no trust on the court, hundreds of cops securing the Quezon City Hall of Justice in anticipation of her arrival and even her own bodyguards.
“I do not feel safe, I really do not feel safe. I don’t trust the court, I don’t trust the police,” said Duterte, adding that she had felt unsafe since 2023 amid what she claimed as relentless harassment of her family.
She however did not say who was actually bullying her and the entire Duterte family.
When her lawyers requested that she take the elevator to appear before the court at the fifth floor of the Hall of Justice Building, the vice president resisted.
“Who will answer for it if I die later tonight? Who will be held accountable?,” she insisted, worrying that she would be left vulnerable if placed in a small elevator with armed police officers.
She nonetheless agreed to go up provided journalists in attendance accompany her — “I want a lot of people to see it. I really don’t know what will happen to me in there.”
FAR FROM COPS
After Duterte posted bail, the Office of the Vice President issued a statement saying that VP Sara’s lawyers advised her to post bail rather than be in police custody.
“They explained that I would be better protected by civilians who could see and notice my situation, compared to remaining in detention where I would be isolated and have less protection,” reads part of the statement released to the media.
Duterte also expressed concern for the safety of her mother and children.
Duterte’s legal team also hinted at the idea of filing legal action over the implementation of the warrant, citing the vice president’s claim that authorities had gone to places where her mother and children were staying.
She went on to claim that government pressure and harassment against her family had continued since 2023, an allegation that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to verify.
NOTHING TO VERIFY
In response, PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez said there’s nothing to verify since neither the vice president nor her family reported the alleged threat to the police.
“To date, however, the Vice President has not reported to the PNP any threat to her life or to the safety of her family, including the threats she said date back to 2023,” Nartatez said.
He added that the PNP had not monitored any incident posing danger to Duterte or her family.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities “knew of her whereabouts the night before but we did not force the warrant of arrest.”
Remulla said the PNP had body-camera footage of the serving of the warrant and of Duterte’s arrival at the Hall of Justice.
“The PNP accorded her all the respect her position deserves,” he said, adding that the pressure surrounding Duterte’s situation appeared to be affecting her perception.
