The Philippines is grappling with political turmoil after Vice President Sara Duterte made an unprecedented public threat to have President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she were killed. The remarks, made during an online press conference on Saturday, have sparked a national security investigation and intensified political divisions between the country’s two highest leaders.
Duterte, a lawyer and the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, accused Marcos and his allies of corruption and incompetence, while also expressing outrage over the treatment of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. Lopez was detained by members of the House of Representatives, believed to be allies of Marcos and Romualdez, who accused her of obstructing an investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds by Duterte during her time as vice president and education secretary.
In a profanity-laced press briefing, Duterte alleged that there was a plot against her life and said she had contracted an assassin to retaliate if she were killed. “I said, ‘If I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM [Marcos], Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke,’” Duterte declared, further adding that the assassin had agreed to carry out her orders.
The Presidential Security Command (PSC) has heightened security protocols for President Marcos and his family. In a statement, the PSC said, “We are closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the President and the First Family.”
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said “any and all threats against the life of the president shall be validated and considered a matter of national security.”
The Department of Justice is now investigating the supposed assassination threat against the president. Under Philippine law, public threats to harm another person can result in jail time and fines.
Duterte’s threat has widened the rift between her and Marcos, whose alliance secured landslide victories in the 2022 elections. Initially aligned under a platform of national unity, their relationship has soured over disputes on policy issues, including foreign relations and Marcos’ investigation into her father’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
The current conflict escalated after Duterte resigned from Marcos’ Cabinet in June 2024, citing differences in governance. Marcos’ allies in Congress have since pursued investigations into her alleged misuse of public funds during her tenure as education secretary, further straining relations.
