Philippine VP Sara Duterte’s Shocking Assassination Threat Against President Marcos

Philippine VP Sara Duterte Makes Threat Against President Marcos

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte publicly stated that she hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed. Duterte insisted that her comments were serious and not a joke.

Following this statement, Lucas Bersamin, Manila’s Executive Secretary, referred the threat to an elite security force for immediate action. The Presidential Security Command increased Marcos’s security, treating Duterte’s threat as a national security issue. They are coordinating with law enforcement to protect the president and his family.

Duterte and Marcos were initially political allies, winning landslide victories in the May 2022 elections on a platform of unity. However, their relationship soured over disagreements, including differing views on China’s aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea. Duterte resigned from her cabinet position as education secretary in June.

In a recent outburst during an online news conference, Duterte accused Marcos of incompetence and dishonesty. She reacted strongly to the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, who faced allegations related to budget misuse. Lopez fell ill during this controversy, prompting a surge of emotions.

Duterte’s comments came after she expressed concerns about her safety. She stated, “Don’t worry about my security because I’ve talked with somebody. I said: ‘If I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez.” She emphasized the seriousness of her order to her alleged assassin.

Under Philippine law, such threats are considered criminal and may lead to imprisonment and fines. The military leadership called for calm and reaffirmed their commitment to remaining nonpartisan amidst escalating tensions.

Both Duterte and Marcos belong to influential political families. Marcos is the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, while Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his controversial anti-drug policies.