Philippine officials have initiated criminal proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte and her security personnel following an alleged incident of assault and disobedience towards law enforcement in Congress. The Quezon City police have filed these complaints, which are distinct from any future legal actions that may stem from her recent public threats involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his spouse, and the Speaker of the House. Duterte warned of possible assassination attempts should she face any harm, although she has yet to disclose specific details about these purported threats.
This legal move against Duterte, along with her father and their associates, marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between two of the Philippines’ most powerful families. The conflict has been brewing for the past two years. The Department of Justice is currently reviewing potentially seditious comments made by Rodrigo Duterte—Sara’s father and former president—during a press briefing. He stated that the military’s concerns regarding corruption and irregularities within the Marcos administration would only be addressed seriously if voiced by military personnel.
Rodrigo Duterte expressed during the news conference that there exists a breakdown in governance and suggested that only the military could rectify the situation. He asserted that he was not inciting a military coup against the Marcos administration, but merely highlighting the troubling realities facing the nation. Nevertheless, justice officials confirmed that their investigation into the former president’s statements would continue.
The complaints against Vice President Duterte and her aides, which include charges of assault, defiance, and grave coercion towards police authorities, have been submitted to state prosecutors. The charges stem from a recent tumultuous confrontation in the House of Representatives involving Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. Lopez has been placed under temporary detention as part of a congressional investigation into alleged misuse of confidential funds while Duterte served as education secretary under the current administration.
During this incident, Lopez was instructed to be transferred to a women’s correctional facility outside of Congress, an order that provoked agitation from the vice president and her team. Ultimately, Lopez was relocated to a government hospital, where she is currently confined. National police chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, stating that no individual is exempt from accountability, regardless of their position. He asserted that the police remain dedicated to enforcing lawful orders and maintaining public order.
In a different case, a subpoena was issued to the Vice President’s office, seeking her participation in an investigation concerning her recent threats. Duterte clarified that her statements were not intended as direct threats but voiced her concerns for her personal security.
In a televised address, President Marcos condemned the vice president’s remarks as a criminal conspiracy and affirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law. Both political figures campaigned for national unity during the 2022 elections, winning significant victories despite the separate election of the president and the vice president in the Philippines, which can lead to political rivalries.
Tensions between the two leaders have escalated due to differing stances on several issues, including the Philippine foreign policy toward China in contested South China Sea territories and the controversial anti-drug measures spearheaded by former President Duterte, which resulted in numerous casualties, primarily among impoverished communities. Sara Duterte resigned from her position as education secretary and her role on an anti-insurgency council in June, subsequently emerging as a prominent critic of both President Marcos and their political allies in Congress, headed by his cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.