Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte faced a criminal charge of "grave threats" on August 11, 2026, filed in a Quezon City Regional Trial Court. The charge stems from alleged death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

The case traces back to a late-night or online news briefing in November 2024 when Duterte reportedly said she had arranged for a hitman to kill President Marcos, the First Lady, and the former Speaker if she were killed first [1, 2, 4, 5]. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) originally filed the criminal complaint in February 2025, including charges for "grave threats" and "inciting to sedition"—though the latter was later dismissed [1, 2, 4].

Sara Duterte is currently 48 years old and undergoing a Senate impeachment trial on multiple graft-related charges that began in May 2026. The filing of the criminal charge occurred on Day 14 of the impeachment proceedings [1, 2, 4, 5].

Her legal team argues the criminal case should be halted because, as a sitting impeachable officer, she cannot be prosecuted concurrently with impeachment. Defense lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim said, "As a sitting impeachable officer, the Vice-President may not be prosecuted for an alleged offence that is also the subject of an impeachment case" [1].

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ), represented by spokesman Polo Martinez, maintains the criminal case can proceed alongside impeachment. Martinez said, "That’s correct" and added prosecutors will address the case details during the ongoing trial [1]. University of the Philippines law professor Dante Gatmaytan agreed, saying, "This is not unconstitutional" and "nothing will stop the DOJ from proceeding with the criminal case" [1].

Prosecutors have met a high threshold to move forward on the grave threats charge and recommended bail of 120,000 PHP (about $1,963) for her temporary release [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Under Philippine law, conviction on this charge carries a jail term of one to six months [1, 2, 4]. A guilty verdict could also result in her removal from office and permanent disqualification from elective politics [1, 2, 4].

The court process will determine whether Sara Duterte faces jail time or political removal while she continues her Senate impeachment trial.