Despite a recent arrest warrant issued by a Quezon City court, Vice President Sara Duterte is widely expected to avoid actual jail time. The charges, which stem from alleged grave threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the former House Speaker, carry a potential six-month prison sentence. However, her legal team has already signaled their intent to post the P120,000 bail for each of the three counts, a move that legal experts suggest will allow her to remain free while the case proceeds.

Duterte’s camp has consistently argued that as an impeachable official, she should be exempt from these criminal proceedings, claiming that only impeachment can address the accusations against her. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice maintains that presidential immunity does not extend to the Vice President, asserting that the charges are necessary due to the serious nature of the threats. As the legal battle unfolds, Duterte is likely to challenge the court's jurisdiction through higher courts, a strategy that could prolong the process for years while she continues to navigate the ongoing political fallout and the Senate impeachment inquiry.