THE CAMP of Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed on Sept. 15, 2026, that it will pursue all available legal remedies after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 98 denied its motion for the presiding judge to inhibit from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) grave threats cases.
In a statement, Duterte’s legal counsel, Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim, acknowledged receipt of the court order, which also directed both parties to strictly observe the sub judice rule and refrain from publicly discussing the merits of the case.
“The Vice President will exercise all available remedies. We also received the court’s order requiring both parties to strictly comply with the sub judice rule and to refrain from publicly discussing the merits of the case,” Lim said. “We will continue to comply, consistent with the Vice President’s respect for the rule of law.”
The defense had previously filed a motion questioning the court’s handling of the case, alleging “manifest partiality, bias, and favoritism” and claiming the court aided the prosecution in establishing probable cause. With the denial, the court upheld its jurisdiction over the proceedings.
Impeachment Trial Day 24 Recap (Sept. 14)
Unexplained Wealth Focus: The prosecution shifted to Article II of the impeachment complaint, zeroing in on allegations of unexplained wealth.
Expert Testimony: Retired Sandiganbayan Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang took the stand as the first witness, outlining legal frameworks governing unexplained wealth under Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
She noted that a Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) disproportionate to an official’s lawful income serves as prima facie evidence of questioned acquisitions, and that repeated omissions in declarations raise red flags.
Prosecution Allegations: Prosecutors presented claims that bank transactions totaling P6.77 billion made by Vice President Sara Duterte between 2006 and 2025 were allegedly left undeclared.
