De Lima: Arrest warrant shows sufficient basis to put VP Sara on trial
Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima said Vice President Sara Duterte is finally being held to account for her statements against the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker now that the court has ordered her arrest for her grave threats case.
De Lima said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s issuance of the arrest warrant showed that after it examined the evidence on record, it saw sufficient basis to put Duterte on trial.
The court set bail for Duterte at P120,000 each for three counts of grave threats in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“VP Sara may not be used to being held accountable, but now she must answer the accusations against her in a criminal court,” she said in a statement.
De Lima, one of the House impeachment prosecutors, alleged that it is clear that Duterte made threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“VP Sara’s threat speaks for itself. Kahit paikut-ikutin o daanin sa mga palusot, napakalinaw ng pagbabanta,” she said.
She said the case should not have taken long to resolve, but at least it was finally happening.
The case against Duterte stemmed from an online press briefing during which she said she told somebody to kill the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker if she were killed.
It came amid a House probe into her confidential fund use and her falling out with the Marcos Administration.