Vice President Sara Duterte was not given special treatment when she underwent the booking procedure at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) on Saturday, September 5, according to her lawyer, Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim.
Lim said Duterte underwent the same standard process required by the court after she voluntarily appeared before the QC RTC in connection with the arrest warrant issued against her over three counts of grave threats.
“Wala namang special treatment na binigay sa ating Bise Presidente, she has to go with the same process,” Lim said.
Asked about Duterte’s supposed mugshot, Lim said the Vice President submitted her own photographs to the court for its records. Her fingerprints were also taken as part of the booking procedure.
Lim clarified that Duterte did not need to have a mugshot taken because she voluntarily appeared before the court that issued the warrant.
“Hindi kailangan [ang mugshot] kasi ‘yung mugshot, ‘yung kinukunan kunwari ng pulis, ay ‘yun lang ay kapag inaresto. The Vice President voluntarily appeared before the court that issued the warrant, so there’s no need for her to be arrested,” Lim said.
Duterte voluntarily appeared before the QC RTC shortly before 11 a.m. and posted bail of P120,000 for each of the three counts of grave threats.
Following the posting of bail, the QC RTC issued an order lifting the arrest warrant against Duterte, as well as a release order, according to Lim.
The lawyer personally showed the lifting order to members of the media after Duterte posted bail.
Despite the lifting of the arrest warrant, Lim said Duterte’s legal team would continue to challenge the allegations against her.
The Vice President is facing three counts of grave threats before QC RTC Branch 98.
