Manila: Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday that she has hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Lisa Araneta-Marcos and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez. According to Duterte, he has told the killer that if he (Duterte) is murdered, he will not stop until he kills these three. Duterte warned not to take the threat lightly, saying she was not joking.
Will action be taken against the Vice President?
Acting Secretary Lucas Bersamin has referred the matter to the Presidential Guard Force for “immediate appropriate action” against the threat made to Marcos. However, it is not yet clear what action will be taken against the Vice President. The Presidential Security Command has increased Marcos’ security in view of the threat. She said she viewed the vice president’s “blatant and brazen threat” as a national security issue. The Presidential Security Command said it was “coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter and protect against any threat posed to the President and his family.”
Accused of politically harassing
Marcos and Duterte had contested the presidential and vice-presidential elections together in May 2022. The campaign of both the leaders focused on the call for national unity, thanks to which they registered a landslide victory. However, later differences began to emerge between Marcos and Duterte over their stance on several other issues, including China’s aggressive activities in the disputed South China Sea. In June, Duterto resigned as education minister and head of the counter-insurgency body in the Marcos cabinet. Sara Duterte, who is outspoken like her father and former President Rodrigo Duterte, has openly criticized Marcos. He has accused the President, his wife Sara and cousin Romualdez, Speaker of the House of Representatives, of corruption, incompetence and politically harassing the Duterte family and supporters.
Duterte also said
In an online news conference early Saturday, Duterte accused Marcos of being an incompetent president and a liar. Asked about his safety concerns, Duterte said, “Don’t worry about my safety, because I talked to someone. I have said, “If I am killed, you do not spare BBM, Lisa and Romualdez. Don’t take this lightly, this is no joke.” In the Philippines, many people use ‘BBM’ to refer to President Marcos.
Also know
Duterte said, “I have given my order that if I am killed, do not stop until you kill them. And she said ‘yes’.” Under the Philippines Penal Code, a person making such comments in public can be sentenced to jail and a fine for inciting wrongdoing against a person or his family. (Language)
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