President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has pledged to prevent any “criminal attempts” in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s controversial statement suggesting she would have him, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she were assassinated.
“Kung ganun na lang kadali ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang Presidente, papaano pa kaya ang mga pangkaraniwan na mamamayan?” Marcos said in a video statement on Monday, without explicitly naming Duterte. He emphasized that such threats should not be tolerated, saying, “’Yan ay aking papalagan.”
The remarks follow a fiery weekend in which Duterte made the comment during an online media conference amid a House investigation into alleged irregularities in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) budgets during her term as secretary.
Marcos called the statements “alarming,” criticizing the tone and content. “Nakakabahala ang mga pahayag na narinig natin nitong mga nakaraang araw. Nandiyan ang walang pakundangang pagmumura at ang pagbabanta ng planong ipapatay ang ilan sa atin,” he said.
The President also addressed the issue of accountability, possibly referencing acknowledgment receipts linked to OVP and DepEd funds signed under the alias “Mary Grace Piattos.” He urged public officials to uphold their oath and engage in truthful governance. “Ang katotohanan ay hindi dapat i-tokhang,” he said, hinting at Duterte’s indirect responses.
Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to respecting the legislative branch’s independence, acknowledging its authority to conduct investigations. He stated, “Iginagalang ko ang kanilang gawain bilang isang independenteng sangay ng ating republika.”
Despite the controversies, Marcos expressed his determination to focus on governing. “Sa kabila ng mga pambabatikos, nakatuon ang aking pansin sa pamamahala. Ngunit hindi natin iko-kompromiso ang Rule of Law,” he said, emphasizing that the law must prevail regardless of who is affected.
Meanwhile, Duterte clarified that her statement was not intended as a threat but rather an illustration of perceived security risks to her position. The National Security Council has since declared all threats to the President as matters of national security, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The tension between Marcos and Duterte has been mounting since their election as running mates in 2022, with their relationship souring in recent years. Duterte resigned as education secretary earlier this year and has since become a vocal critic of the administration.
