Philippine VP Sara Duterte Threatens Assassination of Marcos, Government Officials Amid Political Tensions

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Makes Threat Against President and Officials

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte stated she has hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the House Speaker should she be killed. She emphasized this statement was serious and not a joke.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred the threat to an elite presidential guard unit for immediate action. The Presidential Security Command increased Marcos’ security due to the public nature of the threat.

Later, Duterte attempted to clarify her statements, claiming they were expressions of concern for her safety rather than true threats. She questioned the logic behind wanting to kill Marcos, pointing out there was no gain for her.

Such comments could be seen as a violation of Philippine law, which penalizes threats against individuals. If a president vacates office, the vice president steps in, according to the Philippine Constitution.

Duterte and Marcos campaigned together in the 2022 elections, achieving strong victories on a platform of national unity. However, tensions grew over differences in policy, especially regarding China’s activities in the South China Sea. Duterte resigned from her cabinet positions in June amid these conflicts.

Duterte’s recent anger was fueled by the detention of her chief of staff, linked to a congressional inquiry related to budget misuse. In an online news briefing, she accused Marcos of being incompetent and deceptive, using strong language.

When questioned about her safety, she alluded to an unspecified plot to kill her and stated, “If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.”

Military Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner assured that the Armed Forces would remain neutral and uphold democratic values.

Sara Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faced scrutiny for his anti-drug policies during his time in office.