Remulla wary that Duterte ‘would punch’ cops if arrested

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has revealed that they were concerned that Vice President Sara Duterte’s possible arrest for grave threats may lead to her punching police officers enforcing the order. MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has revealed that they were concerned that Vice President Sara Duterte’s possible arrest for grave threats may lead to her punching police officers enforcing the order. In a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday, Remulla noted that Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP–CIDG) personnel had coordinated with Duterte’s camp regarding the warrant to arrest her for grave threats. The Secretary said he was not worried that Duterte’s supporters would launch protests to defend her if she was arrested. Article continues after this advertisement READ: DILG chief dares Duterte to show proof of police harassment “We weren’t worried about that. We were more worried baka manuntok siya ng nagse-serve ng warrant,” he said. (We weren’t worried about that. We were more worried that she would punch an officer serving the arrest warrant.) Remulla was referring to a 2011 incident in which Duterte punched a court sheriff for supposedly disregarding her plea to stop the demolition of houses in a contested parcel of land in Davao City. “We didn’t want that to happen. She has a predilection for violence. And she has a predilection for extreme efforts to get her way,” Remulla said. Article continues after this advertisement “Ayaw ko namang may masuntok kaming CIDG ng vice president, so we treated her with all the necessary courtesy na benefitted ng being vice president,” he added. (I didn’t want CIDG personnel to be punched by the vice president, so we treated her with all the necessary courtesy that she benefits from being vice president.) Article continues after this advertisement READ: Duterte’s distrust of police needs patience, understanding – PNP The Inquirer sought comment from Duterte’s legal counsel, Michael Poa and Paul Lawrence Lim, but they have yet to respond as of this writing. On Friday, Duterte was ordered arrested by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for three counts of grave threats. The charges were in connection with alleged threats she made during a November 2024 virtual press conference against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker and presidential cousin Martin Romualdez. Earlier in the briefing, Remulla said that CIDG personnel attempted to serve the warrant on Duterte at her home in San Juan City and her office in Mandaluyong City. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. But authorities did not arrest her, and she did not post bail until Saturday./coa