The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Friday postponed anew the arraignment of Vice President Sara Duterte on three counts of grave threats, pending the resolution of motions filed by her defense team.
Duterte appeared before QC RTC Branch 98 for the scheduled proceedings, but her lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, said the court opted to defer the arraignment because of pending legal challenges.
Lim said the defense has asked the court to reconsider its earlier denial of a motion seeking the presiding judge’s inhibition from the case. The defense has also filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
“Dahil doon minabuti ng judge na huwag munang ituloy ang arraignment today,” Lim told reporters.
The court has set a new arraignment date, but Lim declined to disclose it, citing the sub judice rule, which restricts public discussion of matters pending before the courts.
Duterte faces three counts of grave threats over statements she made in 2024 involving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.