A senior official stated on Sunday that the Philippines Security Council will investigate a purported threat of assassination made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., characterizing it as a national security issue.
In a forceful morning briefing on Saturday, Duterte claimed that she had communicated with an assassin and given them instructions to kill Marcos, his wife, and the speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be assassinated.
Eduardo Ano, the national security adviser, stated that the government takes any threats against the president seriously and promised to cooperate closely with the intelligence and law enforcement organizations to look into the threat and potential offenders.
According to a statement from Ano, all threats against the president’s life must be verified and deemed a concern of national security.
Duterte’s threats are currently being investigated and could result in prosecution, according to the Presidential Communications Office, which cited the Justice Ministry.
According to a statement from Marcos’ office, prosecution may result if the evidence supports it.
Duterte’s warning was a result of senators ordering her chief of staff to be sent to jail for allegedly obstructing their investigation into the vice president’s alleged misappropriation of public funds.
The Marcos presidential security command responded to Duterte’s threat by stating that it had strengthened its security procedures for the Philippine leader and that the head of the national police had directed an inquiry.
Former political allies Marcos and Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, received resounding support to take over the country’s top two positions in 2022. Due to disagreements over foreign policy and the older Duterte’s lethal war on drugs, the partnership disintegrated this year.
Separate investigations by Marcos congressional allies are looking into allegations of corruption over Sara Duterte’s use of public monies while she was education secretary and Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign, which resulted in over 6,000 deaths in anti-drug operations. They have both denied any misconduct. In June, Duterte resigned from her Cabinet position.
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