VP Sara Duterte Skips Traditional Mugshot During Court Appearance
SARA DUTERTE – Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim has explained why Vice President Sara Duterte did not undergo the usual police mugshot process after appearing before the Quezon City RTC.
Vice President Sara Duterte reportedly did not have her photograph taken by police for a traditional mugshot after she appeared before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
According to lawyer Atty. Paul Lawrence Lim, Duterte submitted her own photograph to authorities as part of the requirements connected to her court appearance. He explained the process while speaking to members of the media following the Vice President’s departure from the Quezon City RTC.
Lim also said that Duterte had already posted bail in connection with the grave threats charges filed against her. He emphasized that the Vice President underwent the proper legal procedures and was not given any special treatment during the process.
“Wala namang special treatment na ibinigay sa sa ating Bise Presidente. She had to go through the same process,” Lim said.
The lawyer explained that Duterte submitted a photograph along with the required certificates and other documents. Her fingerprints were also taken by the court as part of the procedure.
“Mugshot, kasi ang understanding ko diyan ‘yong pulis ang kumukuha noon. Pero ‘yong pictures, there are pictures taken and we submitted. Nandoon na rin ‘yong mga certificates na required to be submitted, kasama doon. Tapos ‘yong fingerprints,” he stated.
Lim further clarified that the photograph submitted by Duterte had a white background and was provided by the Vice President herself.
“White background lang naman ‘yon kasi puwede naman siyang mag-submit, actually, ng sarili niyang pictures. These are pictures na supplied na by the Vice President herself. Hindi kailangan. Kasi ‘yong mugshot, ‘yong kinukuha kunwari ng pulis, ‘yon lang ay kapag inaresto.”
He also stressed that Duterte was not arrested when she appeared before the court. Instead, she voluntarily went to the RTC after an arrest warrant had been issued against her.
“Again, the Vice President voluntarily appeared before the court that issued a warrant. There was no need for her to be arrested,” Lim concluded.
As Duterte left the Quezon City RTC, several of her supporters gathered around her. Some reportedly embraced the Vice President while crying as she made her way out of the court premises.
The development drew attention to the distinction between voluntarily appearing before a court and being formally arrested, particularly regarding the procedures associated with taking a police mugshot.
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