In a startling announcement on Saturday, Vice President Sara Duterte revealed she had commissioned an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and other top officials should she be killed.
During an online press conference, Duterte emphasized the seriousness of her threat, stating she would order the President’s assassination if she were to die first. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin forwarded this “active threat” to the Presidential Security Command for immediate action.
The Presidential Security Command responded by enhancing Marcos’ security measures and collaborating with law enforcement to counter any threats to the President and his family. They stated that they are taking the threat, delivered so openly, very seriously.
The command declared the situation a matter of national security, promising to take all necessary steps to protect the President.
It remains unclear what actions, if any, will be taken against the Vice President.
Marcos and Duterte ran together in the elections and won by significant margins, campaigning on a platform of national unity.
However, policy disagreements, particularly concerning China’s actions in the South China Sea, have caused a rift between them.
Duterte, known for her populist approach, is the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, a controversial figure and outspoken critic of Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin and ally. Duterte has accused them of corruption, incompetence, and political persecution.
Her threat followed the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, by House members allied with Romualdez and Marcos. Lopez was accused of obstructing a congressional inquiry into the potential misuse of Duterte’s budget as Vice President and Education Secretary. According to the Associated Press, Lopez was later hospitalized after falling ill and wept upon learning of a potential transfer to a women’s prison.
An enraged Duterte held an online press conference on Saturday, where she verbally attacked Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker, using expletives in her criticism.
When questioned about her own security, the 46-year-old lawyer hinted at an unspecified plot against her life. She stated, “Don’t worry about my security because I’ve talked with somebody. I said ‘if I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke,’” using the initials commonly used to refer to the President.
“I’ve given my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.’ And he said, ’yes,’” the Vice President added, according to the AP.
Philippine law prohibits public statements that threaten harm to a person or their family, an offense punishable by imprisonment and fines.
Amidst the political turmoil, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner issued a statement affirming the 160,000-member force’s non-partisan stance, emphasizing respect for democratic institutions and civilian authority.
“We call for calm and resolve,” Brawner said. “We reiterate our need to stand together against those who will try to break our bonds as Filipinos.”
Duterte’s father, Rodrigo Duterte, oversaw controversial anti-drug crackdowns during his time as mayor and later president, resulting in the deaths of thousands of drug suspects. These killings are currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court as a potential crime against humanity.
The former president has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, although some of his public statements contradict these denials. Last month, he admitted to maintaining a “death squad” to eliminate criminals during his time as mayor of Davao City during a Senate inquiry.