Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 postpones again the arraignment of Vice President Sara Duterte on three counts of grave threats. Multiple outlets report that the court reschedules the proceeding for a later date after Duterte and her legal team cite ongoing related matters before the Supreme Court and pending defense filings.
The postponement follows earlier scheduling changes: the arraignment was first set for Sept. 11 and later moved to Oct. 9, and Friday’s move is described as the second postponement. Inquirer and other reports say Duterte’s lawyer points to a pending petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court, along with defense motions for partial reconsideration “ad cautelam,” as reasons the hearing does not proceed.
Other outlets also describe that Duterte appears or arrives at the Hall of Justice for the scheduled arraignment on Oct. 9, where she would have been informed of the charges and asked to enter a plea. If she had pleaded not guilty, the case would proceed to trial proper; a guilty plea could lead to conviction. Outlets differ mainly in emphasis—some focus on the court’s decision to postpone, others on Duterte’s attendance at the court that day and the procedural steps expected.
