The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to enforce the arrest warrant issued against Vice President Sara Duterte if she fails to post bail.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Friday the NBI has no choice but to enforce a valid arrest warrant issued by a competent court as part of its law enforcement mandate.
“Well, mandato namin yan sa law enforcement, sa NBI, na if there’s a valid warrant issued by a competent court, we have no options but to enforce the warrant,” Matibag said.
He noted, however, that the case against Duterte is bailable, giving her the option to voluntarily surrender and post bail for her temporary liberty.
“I understand this case is a bailable offense, there’s a possibility the Vice President would voluntarily go to court to post bail for her temporary liberty,” he added.
Matibag said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court must first acquire jurisdiction over Duterte before the case can proceed.
“Unang una, the court should acquire jurisdiction over (the person) of the Vice President. So kailangan voluntary surrender mag post ng bail o kaya, kung hindi magpopost ng bail, the law enforcement, the NBI or PNP can enforce the valid warrant of arrest,” he said.
Once the court acquires jurisdiction over Duterte, the case will proceed to arraignment and subsequent hearings, Matibag said.
As of 6 p.m. Friday, Duterte had yet to post bail, while the Quezon City courts had already closed for the day at 4:30 p.m.#