Quezon City Court Denies Sara Duterte's Bid to Inhibit Judge as Prosecutors Press SALN Stock Case
Vice President Sara Duterte's legal battles advanced on several fronts around October 10. Rappler's October 10 wrap reported that a Quezon City court denied her motion to inhibit the presiding judge in her grave threats case, citing lack of merit. The case stems from alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others; the Quezon City Regional Trial Court had earlier deferred her arraignment a second time, with her lawyer attributing the delay to pending motions, including an appeal of the inhibition denial and a petition before the Supreme Court.
In the Senate impeachment court, prosecutors tightened their argument: over the years Duterte declared her businesses in her asset statements (SALNs) but not the value of her stocks in new companies. The prosecution contends that declaring businesses without their value kept her true net worth beyond public checking — part of Article II on unexplained wealth and false declarations.
The same week brought a ruling in the International Criminal Court case of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte: Trial Chamber III found him fit to stand trial, rejecting defense claims of memory and cognitive impairment. The decision, dated September 28 and made public on October 8, allows special measures for his age and health during hearings, including hourly breaks, hearing aids and nursing assistance.
Father and daughter moving through courtrooms at home and abroad in the same week has made the Duterte family's legal wars the defining storyline of Philippine politics this October. Next to watch: when the impeachment court closes the prosecution's case and turns to the defense, and how the ICC timetable interacts with politics in Manila.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：奎松市政厅。摄影：Judgefloro，CC BY-SA 4.0，取自 Wikimedia Commons
