The Vice President of the Philippines has threatened to kill him

Philippine Vice President Threatens President Marcos

On November 23, 2024, Philippine Vice President Sarah Duterte made shocking remarks. She jokingly claimed to have partnered with a hitman to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the House Speaker if she were killed.

Lucas Barsamin, the presidential secretary, confirmed the threat against Marcos and stated it was sent to the presidential guard for urgent action. The vice president’s comments raised concerns about safety and the seriousness of threats against the president.

An official statement explained that Duterte’s statement, which mentioned an assassin, was serious enough to be referred to the Presidential Security Command for “immediate and appropriate action.” The statement emphasized the need to address any threat to the president’s life.

Duterte and Marcos ran together in the May 2022 elections, gaining support through a campaign for national unity. However, their relationship has deteriorated due to disagreements, particularly about China’s actions in the South China Sea.

Duterte resigned from her cabinet position in June and has since criticized Marcos and other officials. She accused them of corruption and political persecution against her family and allies.

In a recent online conference, Duterte expressed anger, calling Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker incompetent and dishonest. She acknowledged that there was a plot against her life and stated, “Don’t worry about my safety, because I talked to somebody, and I told him: if I’m killed, you kill BBM and Lisa Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. This is not a joke.”

Under Philippine law, such statements may lead to criminal charges for threatening harm, which can result in imprisonment or fines. Amid the growing political tensions, Chief of General Staff Romeo Bruner assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would remain neutral and respect democratic institutions.