Sara Duterte now faces separate criminal charges over alleged threats against President Marcos as her impeachment trial continues, deepening political uncertainty in the Philippines. Source: Kaela Gabriel X.

This charge adds another legal battle as her Senate impeachment trial enters its sixth week. The Department of Justice filed three counts of grave threats against Duterte before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on August 11. The charges relate to remarks she made during an online press conference in November 2024, when she said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed.

The two cases are distinct proceedings. The criminal case is being handled through the regular judicial system, while the impeachment case is a political and constitutional proceeding before the Senate. Although the alleged death threat is also cited in the impeachment case, the Department of Justice said the evidence considered in its preliminary investigation was distinct from the evidence presented during the impeachment proceedings. According to legal scholars, both cases can proceed independently.

The grave threats charges fall under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The DOJ said prosecutors found the evidence sufficient to indict Duterte, while an additional accusation of inciting to sedition was dismissed for lack of evidence. A conviction for grave threats can carry a jail sentence of between one and six months.

What the Charges Could Mean for Duterte

Duterte's legal team has rejected the case and said she remains presumed innocent. Her lawyers also argue that she should not be prosecuted for conduct that is already part of an impeachment case, although the DOJ maintains that the criminal proceedings can continue alongside the Senate trial.

The timing makes the development particularly significant. Duterte is already fighting for her political future in the impeachment trial, which could remove her from office and permanently bar her from elective politics if the Senate finds her guilty. The proceedings therefore carry consequences beyond the current vice presidency, including for her previously anticipated political ambitions in 2028.

"Duterte is already fighting for her political future in the impeachment trial, which could remove her from office and permanently bar her from elective politics if the Senate finds her guilty."

The latest criminal case also revives a confrontation that has already sharply divided the country's political leadership. Duterte's remarks followed a breakdown in relations with the Marcos administration, including disputes over the use of confidential and intelligence funds during her time as vice president and education secretary.

The Impeachment Trial Continues

Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial centers on allegations of misusing confidential government funds, corruption, abuse of power, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The House of Representatives impeached her in May 2026, sending the case to the Senate, which is now acting as the impeachment court.

"Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial centers on allegations of misusing confidential government funds, corruption, abuse of power, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr."

Recent hearings have focused heavily on alleged irregularities in the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds, with Commission on Audit witnesses questioning some expenses, recipients, and the transfer of funds. Commission on Audit auditor Xylene Mae del Campo testified about disbursements that auditors considered impermissible, including expenses associated with activities such as tree planting, wheelchair distribution, and Christmas parties.

The prosecution also raised concerns about delays in comparing thousands of acknowledgment receipts. The defense and prosecution disagreed over the pace and procedure for examining the documents, adding another layer of tension to a trial already attracting intense national attention.

Why Political Stability Matters Beyond Manila

For the Philippines, the accumulation of legal and political disputes involving its two highest elected officials risks keeping national attention focused on political survival rather than longer-term governance. That matters particularly in regions where peacebuilding, public investment, infrastructure, and economic development require sustained attention from both national and local institutions.

Sulu is one such place. The province has faced a complicated political transition since the Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that it was not part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after voters rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the 2019 plebiscite. The ruling was made final later that year, leaving Sulu outside BARMM while the wider Bangsamoro political transition continues.

"For communities in Sulu and across the southern Philippines, consistent governance is essential to maintaining momentum on peace, security, investment, and development."

That makes stability in Manila more than a matter of national political drama. For communities in Sulu and across the southern Philippines, consistent governance is essential to maintaining momentum on peace, security, investment, and development. As Duterte's impeachment trial and new criminal case unfold, the broader concern is whether another prolonged period of political confrontation will leave less political space for the difficult work of building stability in places that need it most.

REFERENCES

Inquirer. (2026, August 12). DOJ files raps vs VP Duterte over Marcos slay ‘threat’. Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net

Inquirer. (2026, August 11). Highlights: Day 14 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 11, 2026. Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net

Inquirer. (2024, November 25). NBI to subpoena VP Duterte over threats vs President Marcos. Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net

Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2024, September 9). SC Upholds Validity of Bangsamoro Organic Law; Declares Sulu not Part of Bangsamoro Region. Supreme Court of the Philippines. https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph