Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday posted bail before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court after it ordered her arrest for the grave threats case stemming from her statement that she had told somebody to kill the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker if she herself were killed.
Bail was set at P120,000 for each of the three counts of grave threats in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, or P360,000.
Duterte’s lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim told reporters that Duterte was not given special treatment at the court and was fingerprinted.
Asked about her mugshot, Lim said Duterte submitted her own photos taken against a white background holding a piece of paper with her name.
“White background lang naman iyon kasi pwede naman siya mag-submit, actually, ng sarili niyang pictures,” he said. “These are pictures na supplied na by the Vice President herself.”
He said mugshots are taken by the police when they arrest an individual. But in Duterte’s case, she appeared before the court that issued the warrant, he said.
“So there was no need for her to be arrested,” he said.
After posting bail, Duterte reiterated her claim that she does not feel safe.
She said her lawyers advised her to post bail because the public can better protect her.
“Advise nila mag bail ka para nakikita ka ng taongbayan. Kasi kung sumama ka sa pulis, hindi na nila malalaman ano gagawin sa iyo sa loob,” she said.
She also said she was told by her lawyers to keep her release order with her at all times because there were supposedly instances when the police arrested people who have posted bail.
After arriving at the Quezon City RTC, Duterte initially refused to enter the building, claiming she does not feel safe and saying she does not trust the court, the police, and even her own security staff.
She also asked the media to accompany her when she entered the building and when she was leaving.
She even told cameramen to show the number of police personnel securing the Quezon City RTC.
In an earlier statement, Duterte said she fears for her children’s safety and for her own.
“I do not feel safe. Pakiramdam ko papatayin nila ako,” she said.
Duterte was charged with grave threats after she said in an online press briefing that she told somebody to kill the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker if she were killed.
She said it was not a joke.
Her lawyers sought the dismissal of the grave threats case, contending that she cannot be prosecuted for an act that is also the subject of her ongoing impeachment trial.
But the court found probable cause to hold Duterte for trial on all three counts of grave threats and ordered her arrested.