The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed on Saturday that a public threat made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been referred to the Presidential Security Command for immediate action.
The PCO stated that Duterte explicitly claimed she had hired an assassin to retaliate against Marcos, the First Lady, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if harm comes to her.
“Any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms,” the Palace said in a statement.
Duterte’s controversial remarks came during a press briefing where she accused Marcos and Romualdez of orchestrating a “farce” over the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. Lopez, who had been cited for contempt by a House panel investigating confidential fund allocations, was transferred to a hospital, which Duterte described as an “attempted homicide.”
The Vice President criticized the President for lacking decisiveness and called the ongoing probe into her office’s confidential funds a “waste of time.” She also alleged that Romualdez was using the investigation to further his own political ambitions.
In response, House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong condemned Duterte’s statements as destabilizing and called for enhanced security for the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker.
“Any threat against them is also a threat to national security. It is imperative that we ensure their safety at all costs,” Adiong stated, adding that such rhetoric is “deeply irresponsible.”
