Court Pauses VP Sara Duterte Hearing After Defense Moves to Delay Case
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court deferred the formal arraignment of Vice President Sara Duterte on September 11, 2026, after her defense team filed a preliminary motion. The court’s decision temporarily halts proceedings against the vice president concerning alleged grave threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady, and the House Speaker, shifting immediate attention to state prosecutors and legal analysts reviewing the dispute.
Defense Motion Blocks Formal Plea as Department of Justice Ordered to Respond
Presiding officers ordered the Department of Justice to submit a formal comment on the defense motion before the court rules on how the case will proceed. Defense attorney Paul Lawrence Lim confirmed outside the Hall of Justice that Duterte did not enter a plea and was not formally read the charges during the court appearance. Lim declined to publicly disclose the contents or legal arguments contained within the defense filing.
In an official statement following the session, the Department of Justice affirmed that it respects the court’s decision to delay the arraignment while the defense motion undergoes review. The deferment leaves the formal reading of charges on hold until the court issues its subsequent order.
The legal delay comes after Duterte posted bail the previous Saturday, following an arrest warrant issued by the Quezon City court in connection with the grave threats case.
