Marcos Sounds Alarm After VP Duterte’s Assassination Threat
(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed alarm over “troubling” threats against him after Vice President Sara Duterte spoke of arranging for his assassination in case she gets killed, as the rift between both leaders deepened.
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“If it’s that easy to plan the assassination of a president, how much more for ordinary citizens?” Marcos said in a recorded video, without naming Duterte. “Such criminal attempts should not be ignored,” the president said, adding that he will resist such moves.
“As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Duterte, daughter of former leader Rodrigo Duterte, said in a briefing Saturday that she had spoken to an unidentified person about assassinating Marcos, his wife Liza, and his cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she gets killed. The vice president later said her remarks were taken out of context, as she was also concerned about her own security.
The development marks a turning point in the ongoing feud between the Philippines’ most powerful politicians, who teamed up in the 2022 election. The Marcos-Duterte alliance was rocked by policy differences before it collapsed earlier this year when the vice president quit Marcos’ cabinet. There are also tensions about a congressional inquiry into the thousands of deaths that occurred when Rodrigo Duterte was president and cracked down on drugs.
The National Bureau of Investigation expects to soon serve a subpoena to the vice president so she can explain her side.
“The premeditated plot to assassinate the president as declared by the self-confessed mastermind will now face legal consequences,” Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said in a briefing.
“We are tapping our law enforcement agents to investigate the whereabouts and the identity of this person or persons who may be plotting against the president,” Andres said. Sara Duterte is not immune from any lawsuit and she faces “many possible legal liabilities,” he added.
Duterte, who attended a hearing at the House of Representatives, told reporters that she will counter moves against her in response to Marcos’ statement on Monday and that she will “gladly answer” any questions when the subpoena is served.
She also criticized the continuing House hearing. “We don’t expect justice anymore in this country. This is clear political harassment. This is clear political persecution,” she said.
Marcos’ allies in congress have been scrutinizing Duterte over her office’s alleged misuse of funds, which she denies. The vice president has also said lawmakers were trying to build a case to impeach her.
“It would not have led to this kind of drama if only the legitimate questions in the Senate and House of Representatives would have been answered,” Marcos said. “I wish that these events will end in a peaceful way that will bring us to the truth.”
(Updates with comments from VP Duterte and justice official.)
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