Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has publicly declared that she hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged plot to assassinate her succeeds.
Duterte made it clear on Saturday that her statement was “not a joke.”
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin described the vice president’s remarks as an “active threat” against the president and referred the matter to the Presidential Security Command for immediate investigation.
“Acting on the vice president’s clear and unequivocal statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill the president if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action,” a government statement confirmed.
“Any threat to the life of the president must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms,” the statement added.
Duterte and Marcos, who campaigned together during the May 2022 elections and achieved a landslide victory, have seen their partnership deteriorate.
Their disagreements span issues such as strategies to counter China’s aggression in the South China Sea.
In June, Duterte resigned from her roles as education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body, escalating tensions further.
Duterte has since become a staunch critic of Marcos, his wife, and Speaker Romualdez.
She has accused them of corruption, incompetence, and targeting her allies for political persecution.
Duterte’s fiery declaration followed the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, by House allies of Marcos and Romualdez.
Lopez faced allegations of obstructing a congressional inquiry into the alleged misuse of Duterte’s budget during her tenure as vice president and education secretary.
After being hospitalized due to illness, Lopez reportedly broke down upon hearing she might be transferred to a women’s prison.
In an expletive-laden online press conference, Duterte criticized the president and his allies, accusing them of dishonesty and inefficiency.
When asked about threats to her own safety, she revealed her contingency plan.
“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. No joke, no joke,’” Duterte stated, using the president’s initials.
She added, “I’ve given my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.’ And he said, ‘yes.’”
Under Philippine law, such public threats can result in imprisonment and fines.
Duterte’s comments have ignited widespread debate, drawing comparisons to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faced international criticism for his brutal anti-drugs campaign.
The elder Duterte has admitted to using death squads to target criminals during his tenure as mayor of Davao City, a practice that later characterized his presidency.
His actions remain under investigation by the International Criminal Court as potential crimes against humanity.
