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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara Duterte's camp files motion to quash NBI grave threats cases

VP Sara Duterte's camp files motion to quash NBI grave threats cases

Counsel cites lack of jurisdiction, declines to discuss case further due to sub judice rule

Published Aug 13, 2026 05:22 pm

At A Glance

  • Duterte's lawyers filed a motion to quash the grave threats information.
  • The defense cited lack of jurisdiction as a ground.
  • Counsel declined further comment, citing the sub judice rule.
The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte filed a motion to quash the grave threats information against her, citing lack of jurisdiction. (Manila Bulletin/file)
The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte filed a motion to quash the grave threats information against her, citing lack of jurisdiction. (Manila Bulletin/file)
The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte filed a motion to quash the grave threats information filed against her in connection with cases being handled by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim, counsel for Duterte in the NBI grave threats cases, confirmed the filing in a statement Thursday, August 13.
“We confirm having filed a motion to quash the Grave Threats Informations filed against the Vice President, on the ground of lack of jurisdiction,” Lim said.
A motion to quash seeks to challenge the legal validity of a criminal information before the case proceeds further. Among the grounds that may be raised is the court’s lack of jurisdiction over the offense or the accused.
Lawyers cite professional responsibility
Lim said Duterte’s legal team would not provide further details about the motion because the matter is already sub judice, or under judicial consideration.
“As lawyers bound by our Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, however, we cannot give any further discussion on this matter that is now sub judice,” he said.
The counsel also appealed to the media and the public for understanding as the legal proceedings move forward.
The motion places the jurisdictional issue before the court, which will determine whether the criminal information should be allowed to proceed.
Grave threats cases
Duterte is facing criminal cases before a Quezon City court over an alleged death threat directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez—an accusation that forms a central part of the case against the country’s second-highest official in her ongoing Senate impeachment trial.
Her legal team is now challenging the cases on jurisdictional grounds rather than publicly discussing the merits of the allegations.
Lim did not disclose additional details about the arguments contained in the motion, citing the ongoing proceedings.
“We thank the media and the public for their understanding,” he said.
Duterte’s legal team on August 11 confirmed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed three counts of grave threats against the Vice President before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City.
RELATED STORY: 
https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/11/vp-saras-camp-confirms-doj-filing-of-3-grave-threats-charges

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Sara Duterte Vice President Sara Duterte NBI grave threats cases motion to quash grave threats Philippines
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