MANILA. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has confirmed that alleged threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have been referred to the Presidential Security Command (PSC) for immediate action.
“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,” the Palace said in a statement on Saturday.
The PCO emphasized that any threats to the President’s life must be taken seriously, especially when stated publicly and explicitly.
The controversy erupted following Duterte’s remarks during a press briefing. She stated that she had given instructions for an assassin to target Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should she be harmed.
“‘Wag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez,’” Duterte revealed during the briefing.
“Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. ‘Pag namatay ako, wag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said yes,” she added.
Conflict Stemming from Chief of Staff’s Detention
The press briefing followed the transfer of Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, to St. Luke’s Medical Center after being detained by the House of Representatives. Lopez was cited in contempt for alleged interference in a congressional inquiry into confidential funds allocated to Duterte’s offices.
Duterte described the transfer as an “attempted homicide” and accused Marcos and Romualdez of orchestrating Lopez’s predicament. She claimed their actions were politically motivated, saying, “All because gusto ni Martin mag president.”
The Vice President also criticized Marcos, her former running mate in the 2022 elections, for his alleged lack of decision-making skills.
“Hindi siya ma-control ng Presidente natin na hindi marunong magdesisyon. Walang desisyon-making skills at all, zero,” she said, adding that the ongoing investigations are “a waste of time.”
Duterte argued that the government should focus on improving the country’s economy rather than engaging in political infighting.
“We made a mistake with that f**** Marcos… and we are wasting time,” she said.
Heightened Security Measures Urged
The escalating tensions prompted House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong to call for enhanced security for the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker.
“Ang Pangulo at ang Speaker ay mahalagang haligi ng ating demokrasya. Anumang banta laban sa kanila ay banta rin sa seguridad ng ating bansa. It is imperative that we ensure their safety at all costs,” Adiong said.
Adiong condemned Duterte’s statements as “reckless and destabilizing,” urging all parties to address the situation with utmost seriousness.
“This rhetoric is deeply irresponsible and deeply troubling. We do not want these kinds of threats to be directed against anyone, not to the sitting President, the Speaker, or even to the Vice President herself,” he added.
The fallout between Marcos and Duterte, who ran as a tandem under the “Uniteam” banner in 2022, has been a recurring issue this year, raising questions about the stability of their alliance.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
