Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte threatened on Saturday to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. killed if something were to happen to her. Her statement has raised concerns, leading Marcos’ office to promise swift action in response.
Duterte, in a surprising move, revealed during a press conference that she had discussed with an assassin the plan to target Marcos, his wife, and the speaker of the House of Representatives if she were to be murdered. This statement highlights the growing tension between the two most influential political families in the Philippines.
Philippine VP Sara Duterte Issues Threat Against President Marcos
On Saturday, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte made a bold and alarming statement, revealing that she had hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the Speaker of the House if she were to be killed. She emphasized that her threat was serious and not a joke.
In response, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred the “active threat” against the president to an elite security force for immediate action, although it was unclear what measures would be taken against the vice president.
The Presidential Security Command quickly ramped up protection for Marcos, citing the threat as a significant national security concern due to its public nature. The security team also coordinated with law enforcement agencies to prevent any potential threats to the president and his family.
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Tensions Rise Between Marcos and Duterte
In the May 2022 elections, Marcos and Duterte ran together, with Marcos as president and Duterte as his vice-presidential candidate. Both secured overwhelming victories, promoting a message of national unity.
However, soon after their win, tensions arose between the two leaders over key disagreements, particularly regarding their approaches to China’s actions in the South China Sea. In June, Duterte resigned from his roles as education secretary and head of the anti-insurgency agency, leaving the Marcos Cabinet.
Like her outspoken father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte became an outspoken critic of Marcos and his inner circle. She accused Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez (the president’s cousin and ally) of corruption, mismanagement, and politically targeting the Duterte family and their supporters.
Sara Duterte Accuses Marcos of Incompetence
Sara Duterte recently erupted in anger after House members, aligned with Romualdez and Marcos, decided to detain her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. Lopez was accused of obstructing a congressional investigation into the potential misuse of government funds when Duterte served as vice president and education secretary.
After falling ill, Lopez was taken to the hospital and became emotional upon hearing that she might be temporarily imprisoned in a women’s facility.
In a tense online news conference held early in the morning, Duterte lashed out at President Marcos, calling him incompetent and a liar. She directed her harsh criticism at Marcos, his wife, and the House speaker, using strong language.
When asked about her safety, the 46-year-old vice president hinted at a possible plot to kill her. “Don’t worry about my security. I’ve spoken to someone. I told them, ‘If I’m killed, you must go after BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke,’” Duterte said, referring to the president using his initials.
She further stated, “I gave my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve gotten them.’ And he agreed.”
Such statements could potentially be seen as a threat under the Philippine penal code, which makes threatening harm against an individual or their family a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment and a fine.
Philippine Military Chief Calls for Unity Amid Political Tensions
Amid political tensions, Gen. Romeo Brawner, the military chief of the Philippines, assured that the 160,000-member Armed Forces would remain neutral and uphold respect for democratic institutions and civilian authority.
“We urge calm and unity,” Brawner stated. “We emphasize the importance of standing together against those who seek to divide us as Filipinos.”
The vice president, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, comes from a background marked by her father’s controversial anti-drug campaign. As mayor and later president, Duterte’s crackdown led to thousands of deaths, mostly of low-level drug suspects, which is now under investigation by the International Criminal Court as a potential crime against humanity.
Although Duterte denied ordering extrajudicial killings, his statements have been inconsistent. In a recent Philippine Senate inquiry, he admitted to running a “death squad” of criminals during his time as mayor of Davao City.
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FAQs
Q.1. What did Sara Duterte threaten President Marcos with?
Ans. Sara Duterte threatened to have President Marcos and his family killed if she were murdered, revealing she had spoken to an assassin about the plan.
Q.2. How did the government respond to Sara Duterte’s threat?
Ans. The Philippine government referred the threat to an elite security force, ramped up protection for President Marcos, and coordinated with law enforcement agencies for further safety measures.
Q.3. What caused the tensions between President Marcos and Vice President Duterte?
Ans. Tensions arose over disagreements, including differing approaches to China’s actions in the South China Sea and accusations of corruption and mismanagement within the Marcos administration.
Q.4. What did Sara Duterte accuse Marcos and his allies of?
Ans. Sara Duterte accused President Marcos, his wife Liza, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez of corruption, mismanagement, and politically targeting her family and supporters.
Q.5. Is threatening harm against someone a criminal offense in the Philippines?
Ans. Yes, under Philippine law, threatening harm against an individual or their family is a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment and a fine.
