Key Takeaways:
– Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte has publicly threatened to assassinate the country’s president, first lady, and house speaker, if she herself is killed.
– The Executive Secretary has tasked an elite presidential guard force to handle this ‘active threat.’
– The presidential security response includes heightened protective measures for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and an inquiry alongside law enforcement agencies.
– Sara Duterte’s public dispute with the current administration stemmed from alleged corruption and dissenting positions on national issues.
– Sara is the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, the controversial ex-president known for his brutal anti-drug crack down.
Heightened Threat to National Security
In a striking revelation, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has made a chilling public threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. She declared that a contract killer has been enlisted to eliminate these high-ranking individuals if she is killed, insisting that her threat is not a jest. Responding to the situation, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin immediately forwarded the ‘active threat’ to an elite force of presidential guards for swift action. The measures to be taken against the Vice President remain uncertain at this time.
Escalating Protective Actions
In light of this threat, The Presidential Security Command swiftly chiped in to bolster Marcos’ security detail. The service described the vice president’s public declaration, as a vital security issue for the nation. In a statement, the security force emphasized their collaboration with law enforcement to detect and deter all perceived threats to the president and his family, reasserting their commitment to their duty of protection.
Marcos and Duterte’s Winning Alliance Disintegrates
The erstwhile electoral success of Marcos and Duterte as president and vice-president, respectively, in the May 2022 elections seems a distant memory. After achieving landslide victories on a call to unify the nation, a significant disagreement over major issues soured their relationship. Notably, their differing standpoints on China’s actions in the contested South China Sea fostered discord. Duterte ended up resigning from the Marcos Cabinet in June and has since been critical of the administration.
Sara Duterte’s Accusations and Falling Out
Sara Duterte, an outspoken critic like her father – former President Rodrigo Duterte, has aggressively accused the current administration of corruption, incompetence, and political persecution of her family and close supporters. This recent dispute ensued after the House members, aligned with Romualdez and Marcos, ordered the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. Accused of obstructing a congressional inquiry into alleged misuse of her budget as vice president and education secretary, Lopez was later moved to a hospital after falling ill.
Duterte’s Outrage and the Undisclosed Assassination Plot
The vice president vented her fury in a pre-dawn online news conference. She challenged Marcos’ capabilities as a president and called him a liar, along with his wife and the House speaker. When asked about her own security, Duterte alluded to a covert plot to kill her.
Under the Philippine penal code, such public threats may amount to a crime of threatening to inflict harm on a person or their family. These acts are punishable with a jail term and fines.
The Filipino Military’s Stand
Amidst these growing political divisions, Military Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner assured that the 160,000-member Armed Forces of the Philippines would remain impartial. He reiterated their respect for democratic institutions and civilian authority. He further urged for calm and unity against those trying to destabilize the nation.
It is imperative to note that the vice president is the daughter of Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. His infamous anti-drugs crackdown, as a city mayor and as president, resulted in thousands of deaths, attracting the scrutiny of the International Criminal Court for potential crimes against humanity. The ex-president denied ordering extrajudicial killings under his crackdown but has presented contradictory statements in the past.