Famous People and Their Big Legal Fights in 2024

This year brought legal battles for several well-known personalities, drawing significant public attention. Here’s a closer look at some of the cases and controversies:

Vice President Sara Duterte

Legal Cases:

1. Disbarment Complaints:
   • Remarks on Exhumation:
     • In November, an anonymous complaint was filed after Duterte threatened to exhume the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. if personal attacks against her did not stop.
   • Alleged Assassination Threats:
     • Disbarred lawyer Larry Gadon filed a separate complaint after Duterte admitted in a Zoom briefing that she had hired someone to kill prominent political figures in the event of her death.
   • 2011 Assault Incident:
     • Duterte also faces an old disbarment case for punching a court sheriff during a demolition when she was Davao City mayor.
2. Confidential Funds Petition:
   • A petition has been filed seeking the return of ₱125 million in confidential funds spent by Duterte’s office in just 11 days in 2022. Critics argue the spending was unconstitutional, but Duterte insists it was lawful.
3. Direct Assault and Other Complaints:
   • Duterte is accused of assault, disobedience, and coercion related to incidents at the House of Representatives Detention Center involving her chief of staff.

Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo

Pending Court Cases:

1. Graft Allegations:
   • Guo is accused of granting a permit to a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) firm with expired licenses, now under trial in Valenzuela.
2. Identity Issues:
   • Birth Certificate Cancellation: Authorities claim Guo falsified her identity as a Filipino.
   • Quo Warranto Petition: A court is determining whether her election as mayor should be void due to her alleged Chinese citizenship.
3. Qualified Trafficking:
   • Over 800 people were rescued from a POGO firm linked to Guo, leading to trafficking charges. Bail was denied after evidence was found strong.
4. Election Fraud:
   • Guo allegedly misrepresented her citizenship during her candidacy for mayor.

Additional Complaints:

• Pending complaints include tax evasion, money laundering, and falsification of documents.

KOJC Leader Apollo Quiboloy

1. Human Trafficking and Abuse:
   • Quiboloy faces charges of qualified trafficking and child abuse. The next court hearings are scheduled for January 2025.
2. Current Status:
   • He remains detained at the Pasig City Jail Male Dormitory.

Former Congressman Arnie Teves

1. Murder and Related Charges:
   • Teves faces multiple charges, including the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others in 2023, as well as older cases from 2019.
   • Though trials for other accused are ongoing, Teves has not been arraigned due to his continued stay in Timor-Leste.
2. Extradition Efforts:
   • Timor-Leste has approved his extradition, though appeals are expected.

Judicial System Performance in 2024

1. Case Resolution Rates:
   • Lower Courts: Resolved 508,197 cases (43% disposition rate).
   • Supreme Court: Closed 4,294 cases (22% disposition rate).
   • Court of Appeals: Resolved 14,699 cases (35% disposition rate).
   • Sandiganbayan: Resolved 994 cases (44% disposition rate).
   • Court of Tax Appeals: Resolved 648 cases (29% disposition rate).

As the year closes, these legal battles underscore ongoing challenges in governance, accountability, and justice.