Femi Ashekun/
Philippine Vice President, Sara Duterte, ignited a political firestorm Saturday by openly claiming she had arranged for the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the House Speaker if she is killed, a stunning declaration that has raised alarm over national security.
“I’ve given my order: if I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them. No joke,” Duterte said in a fiery press conference, without elaborating on the alleged plot.
Her comments, laden with accusations of incompetence, corruption, and betrayal, have intensified her feud with the president, his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker, Martin Romualdez.
Executive Secretary, Lucas Bersamin, called the threat “active” and referred it to the Presidential Security Command, which bolstered protections for Marcos and his family, calling the statement a matter of national security.
Duterte, attempting damage control later, insisted her remarks were not a genuine threat but a reaction to an unspecified danger to her life.
However, legal experts noted such statements could constitute a criminal offense under Philippine law, punishable by imprisonment and fines.
The vice president’s explosive remarks follow a deepening rift with Marcos, which began after she resigned from his Cabinet in June.
Tensions escalated further this week after her chief of staff was detained by Congress over alleged misuse of funds, a move Duterte condemned as politically motivated.
Military leaders have urged calm, vowing neutrality amid growing concerns that the feud between the nation’s top leaders could destabilise the country’s fragile political balance.
The comments mark a new low in the relationship between Duterte and Marcos, former allies who swept to victory in 2022 on a platform of unity but have since turned into bitter rivals, with their camps accusing each other of betrayal and corruption.
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