Manila: The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed criminal charges of grave threats against Vice President Sara Duterte, alleging that she made death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. These charges were filed on Tuesday before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, according to state media reports.

According to Anadolu Agency, the charge stems from statements reportedly made by Duterte during an online news briefing in November last year, where she allegedly claimed to have contracted a hitman to kill the president, the first lady, and Romualdez if she were to be killed. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had previously filed complaints against Duterte for inciting to sedition and issuing grave threats.

Spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed, "We confirm that the grave threats case filed today is the same matter referred by the NBI to the DOJ. It is also the same matter raised in the impeachment proceedings." Prosecutors have recommended a bail amount of 120,000 Philippine pesos ($1,963) for Duterte's temporary release.

Duterte is currently facing an impeachment trial in the Senate, with the threat being one of the four charges against her. The other charges involve alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and unexplained wealth. However, her legal team argues that the criminal case should not proceed concurrently with the impeachment proceedings. Defense lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim stated, "As a sitting impeachable officer, the Vice-President may not be prosecuted for an alleged offence that is also the subject of an impeachment case."