Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte’s controversial statement on Saturday, November 23th, threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has sparked a national security investigation, highlighting the deepening rift between the two top leaders.
During a press briefing, Duterte declared she had spoken to an assassin, instructing them to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed. “If I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), Liza, and Martin. No joke,” Duterte said, using profanity to emphasize her point. Her comments came in response to an online remark suggesting she was in danger while attending a congressional session.
President Marcos addressed the matter in a video message on Monday, condemning the threats without directly naming Duterte. “The statements we heard in the previous days were troubling,” he said. “There is the reckless use of profanities and threats to kill some of us. I will fight them.” Marcos added, “If planning the assassination of the president is that easy, how much more for ordinary citizens?”
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año described Duterte’s remarks as a “serious national security issue.” “Any and all threats against the life of the president shall be validated and considered,” Año said. He confirmed that investigations were underway to verify the threat and identify possible perpetrators.
The Department of Justice has also weighed in, stating that Duterte’s statements could lead to legal action if the allegations are substantiated. Marcos’ office added, “If the evidence warrants, this could result in eventual prosecution.”
The conflict between Marcos and Duterte, whose political partnership helped them secure major victories in the 2022 elections, intensified with this unexpected turn of events. Disagreements over policy and increased scrutiny of Duterte’s spending as education secretary led to the collapse of their alliance earlier this year. Since resigning from the cabinet in June, Duterte has openly criticized Marcos, describing their relationship as ‘toxic’ and admitting that she had fantasized about ‘beheading’ him.
As the nation approaches midterm elections in May, the fallout from this feud has raised concerns about political stability and governance, with both leaders facing mounting challenges from their respective camps.
