Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday said Vice President Sara Duterte initially wanted to be detained at Camp Crame over a grave threats case, but authorities declined, saying they wanted to “accord her the respect” due to her position.
Speaking at a press briefing at Camp Crame, Remulla said authorities rejected Duterte’s camp’s request for her to be detained there, after which she decided to post bail at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) instead.
He also claimed that Duterte’s camp wanted the Vice President to be handcuffed and photographed behind bars.
“Ang gusto nila magpakulong dito. Sabi namin, bakit ikukulong kaagad? Di ba? So, in the end, they refused. Nagpalit sila ng isip,” Remulla said.
Remulla called Duterte’s camp’s request for her detention “drama.”
“Ang drama nila, gusto nila makulong siya, hindi kami pumayag,” he said.
“We wanted to go according to the rules of law and to the rules of court, sanay kasi sila sa shortcut,” Remulla added.
He continued: “Gusto niya may picture siya na naka-handcuff, gusto niya may picture siya na nakakulong hindi namin ibinigay ‘yun, we accorded her the respect that her position deserves.”
Remulla said Duterte’s camp had asked the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) about the jail facility where she would be detained and even what food would be served to her.
CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico also said Duterte’s security team had discussed possible detention arrangements with authorities.
According to Remulla, however, the plan changed after authorities explained that Duterte would be treated with courtesy as the country’s Vice President. He said she would not be placed with regular detainees and would be assisted in posting bail.
“Gusto niya ng ma-handcuff, gusto niyang matulog dito, gusto niyang makitang sa likod ng rehas,” Remulla said.
He added that when Duterte’s camp was told that the detention room was air-conditioned, her position allegedly changed.
“Tinanong kung anong itsura ng kwarto, nung sinabi namin maganda ang air-condition ng kwarto parang nag-iba nag isip niya. Ang gusto niyang picture na lumabas sa media ay nasa likod siya ng rehas. Hindi naman siya deserving ng ganun, bailable offense naman,” Remulla said.
Duterte ultimately did not proceed with detention at Camp Crame and instead went to the QC RTC the following day, where she posted bail.
Remulla also rejected allegations of harassment, saying authorities merely followed the law while respecting Duterte’s position.
He said authorities were more concerned about the possibility of a confrontation while serving the warrant.
“We were more worried baka manuntok siya ng nagse-serve ng warrant, kasi nangyari na dati ’yun sa Davao na may nagse-serve ng warrant sa community... bumaba siya, sinuntok niya ’yung sheriff,” Remulla said, referring to a previous incident in which he claimed that Duterte punched a sheriff who was serving a warrant in Davao City when she was mayor.
“Ayaw ko naman na may masuntok kaming CIDG ng vice president,” he added.
The arrest warrant was issued in connection with a criminal complaint against Duterte over remarks she made in January, in which she threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she herself were killed.
