The order was issued Friday, Sept. 4, following charges linked to comments Duterte made during a late-night online news conference nearly two years ago. At the time, she was under investigation over allegations of corruption.
During the news conference, Duterte, 48, said she had arranged for Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Marcos and Martin Romualdez, the president's cousin and then speaker of the House, to be assassinated if she herself were killed.
The remarks intensified an already bitter political rivalry between Duterte and Marcos Jr., whose relationship has deteriorated since they won their respective elections and took office in 2022.
The political alliance between their families had helped secure their electoral victory, but tensions between the two camps grew steadily. In 2024, Duterte resigned as education secretary and from other key positions in Marcos Jr.'s Cabinet, further deepening the divide between the two political dynasties.
Duterte is also facing separate legal and political challenges. In May, the Philippine House of Representatives impeached her over allegations involving corruption, misuse of public funds and threats against the president. She is currently facing an impeachment trial in the Senate. If convicted, she could be barred from holding public office.
The latest arrest order adds another major development to the ongoing political conflict and could further reshape the country's already tense political landscape.
Sara Duterte is the daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022. He is currently being held in The Hague, Netherlands, while awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.
Marcos Jr. is also the son of a former Philippine president. His father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ruled the country from 1965 to 1986 and was widely described as a dictator. His administration was marked by martial law, during which constitutional rights were suspended and political opposition was heavily restricted.
The arrest order against Sara Duterte comes as the Philippines continues to grapple with the political fallout from the rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte families, two of the country's most influential political dynasties.
