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GMA News broadcaster Arnold Clavio weighed in on two questions surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte’s appearance before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 98 on Saturday, September 5: why she had no official police mugshot and whether posting bail on a weekend was allowed.
Duterte posted a total of ₱360,000 bail for three counts of grave threats after an arrest warrant was issued against her.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, September 6, Clavio stressed that he is not a lawyer and based his discussion on legal provisions and information available about the proceedings.
“Dalawa ang legal na pinagtatalunan sa kaso ni VP Sara Duterte nang magtungo sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court noong Sabado,” Clavio wrote.
“Una, BAKIT WALANG MUG SHOT si VP Sara? Pangalawa, LEGAL BA ANG PAG-POST NIYA NG BAIL NG SABADO NA WALANG PASOK SA KORTE?”
Addressing the first question, Clavio said there is no law that automatically exempts someone who voluntarily surrenders from having a mugshot taken.
“Hindi po ako abogado, pero batay sa mga legal records na may kaugnayan sa isyu, sinasabi na WALANG BATAS sa Pilipinas na nagsasabing: ‘Kapag voluntary surrender, hindi na kailangan ng mugshot,’” he said.
Clavio cited Article 13(7) of the Revised Penal Code, which lists voluntary surrender as a mitigating circumstance, as well as Rule 113 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure on arrests.
He then distinguished a traditional police mugshot from photographs and fingerprints that may be submitted as part of court requirements.
“Kaya mas tamang sabihin: ‘Walang batas na nagsasabing automatic na walang mugshot kapag voluntary surrender. Pero kung kusang pumunta ang akusado sa korte at hindi siya aktuwal na inaresto ng pulis, maaaring walang traditional police mugshot. Maaari pa ring kailanganin ang litrato at fingerprint bilang bahagi ng court booking requirements,’” he explained.
“Sa kasalukuyang kaso ni VP Sara Duterte, iniulat mismo na walang official police mugshot, pero nagsumite siya ng photographs at fingerprint bilang bahagi ng proseso.”
Duterte’s legal counsel, Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim, similarly said that the Vice President submitted photographs with a white background, along with other required documents, and had her fingerprints taken.
Lim maintained that Duterte was not arrested by police but voluntarily appeared before the court following the issuance of the warrant.
Clavio also addressed questions over Duterte being allowed to post bail on a Saturday, saying that a weekend proceeding is not automatically prohibited.
“Sa pangalawang usapin, binabanggit naman sa legal records na HINDI ILIGAL ang pag-post ng bail sa araw ng Sabado,” he said.
Clavio cited Rule 114, Section 17 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure regarding where bail may be filed. He also referenced Rule 113, Section 6, which provides that an arrest may be made “on any day and at any time of the day or night.”
According to Clavio, reports indicated that Quezon City RTC Branch 98 was the assigned weekend court on September 5.
“At sa nangyaring kaso noong Sabado, September 5, 2026, iniulat na ang Quezon City RTC Branch 98 ang assigned weekend court, kaya doon isinagawa ang bail proceedings. Matapos matanggap ang requirements, naglabas ang korte ng order na nag-angat ng arrest warrant,” he said.
Duterte posted ₱120,000 bail for each of the three grave threats charges, for a total of ₱360,000.
