Sara Duterte’s arraignment for grave threats case deferred

MANILA, Philippines – Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 98 has deferred the arraignment of Vice President Sara Duterte for her grave threats case originally scheduled on Friday, September 11. Duterte’s lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, said they filed a motion with the court that prompted the tribunal to defer the Vice President’s arraignment. Duterte made a personal appearance before the court. “ Ito’y pinagbigyan ng korte at pinapa-comment niya, pinapa-submit niya ng comment ang DOJ (Department of Justice), prosecution within a certain period. Tapos maaari rin kami sumagot kung sakali na kailangan, and then saka niya dedesisyunan ito, ‘yong aming motion ,” Lim told reporters outside the court. “ Ngayon, pansamantala habang ito’y pinag-iisipan pa niya ‘yong aming motion, hindi muna matutuloy ‘yong arraignment, so suspended muna ,” he added.

(The court acknowledged our motion and asked the DOJ, the prosecution, to comment within a certain period. And we can reply to that if ever, and then the judge will decide on our motion. For now, while the court is deliberating on our motion, the arraignment has been deferred, suspended for the meantime. ) Vice presidential spokesperson Paolo Panelo , confirmed Duterte’s attendance ahead of her arrival. Arraignment is the phase in criminal proceedings that happens after the arrest or surrender. This is when the court reads the accused the case, and asks them either for a guilty or not-guilty plea. If the accused entered a guilty plea, then the case will immediately move to conviction, usually with a lower sentence. If the plea is not guilty, then the case moves to trial. It’s unclear what type of motion the defense has filed with the court. Even the DOJ did not disclose the nature of the motion. “The DOJ respects the Court’s…