Vice President Duterte Issues Public Assassination Threat Amid Political Tensions

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — In a dramatic and public statement, Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Saturday that she had contracted an assassin for potential retribution if she were to be killed. Her statement posed a direct threat to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a move that has been described as a national security concern. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has referred this threat to the elite presidential guards for immediate action. The Presidential Security Command has heightened the security measures for President Marcos and his family.

The origin of the conflict between Duterte and Marcos stems from their political partnership in the May 2022 elections, where they ran together on a platform promising national unity. Despite this initial alliance, their relationship deteriorated swiftly due to differing political approaches, particularly concerning territorial issues in the South China Sea. The friction culminated in Duterte’s resignation from Marcos’ cabinet in June, where she served as education secretary and led an anti-insurgency task force.

The vice president’s incendiary remarks were ignited by recent actions from allies of Romualdez and Marcos in the House of Representatives. Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, is being detained on allegations of obstructing an investigation into Duterte’s budget management. Lopez, who has since been hospitalized, was reportedly distressed by plans to imprison her temporarily.

During an impassioned and profanity-laden online news briefing, Duterte accused President Marcos, his wife, and the House speaker of incompetence, corruption, and political persecution against her family and allies. She warned of an unnamed plot against her life, stating, «I’ve talked with somebody. I said, ‘if I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke.'» Such comments may potentially violate Philippine laws concerning threats and intimidation, which carry penalties of imprisonment and fines.

In the face of the escalating political tension, the Philippine military’s chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner, emphasized the armed forces’ commitment to remain nonpartisan and pledged support to the nation’s democratic institutions. «We call for calm and resolve,” Gen. Brawner stated, underscoring the need for unity among Filipinos against forces that threaten to divide them.

This incident reflects deepening political divides in the Philippines, exacerbated by Vice President Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his controversial anti-drug crackdown policy and a history of extrajudicial measures, which have drawn investigations by the international community, including possible human rights violations.