Philippine Vice President Instructs Assassin to Kill President if Killed

The vice-president of the Philippines said she instructed an assassin to kill the president if she were killed.

In a dramatic sign of a widening rift between the two most powerful political families in the Southeast Asian nation, Vice-President Sara Duterte told a press conference that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife and the Speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be killed.

Assassin Instruction

“I have talked to a person. I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” Duterte said in the profanity-laden briefing. “I said, do not stop until you kill them, and then he said yes.”

Security Measures

Security agencies stepped up safety protocols in response.

Response to Online Commenter

She was responding to an online commenter urging her to stay safe, saying she was in enemy territory as she was at the lower chamber of Congress overnight with her chief of staff. Duterte did not cite any alleged threat against herself.

Philippine President’s Reaction

The Presidential Security Command said it had heightened and strengthened security protocols. “We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the president and the first family,” it said in a statement.

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Police Investigation

Police Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said he had ordered an immediate investigation, adding that “any direct or indirect threat to his life must be addressed with the highest level of urgency.”

Presidential Communications Office

The Presidential Communications Office said any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously.

Expert Analysis

Duterte’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statements.

The Vice President’s strong comments probably will not dent her political support, University of the Philippines political scientist Jean Encinas-Franco said. “If anything, this type of rhetoric brings her even closer to what her father’s supporters liked about him.”

Political Rivalry

The daughter of Marcos’ predecessor as president, Duterte resigned from the Marcos cabinet in June while remaining vice president, signaling the collapse of a formidable political alliance that helped her and Marcos, son and namesake of the late authoritarian leader, secure their 2022 electoral victories by wide margins.

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Budget Cuts

Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, has slashed the vice presidential office’s budget by nearly two-thirds.

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Conclusion

The rift between the two most powerful political families in the Philippines continues to widen, with Vice-President Sara Duterte instructing an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his wife if she were to be killed. The incident highlights the growing tension between the two families and the political instability in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Duterte instruct an assassin to kill Marcos Jr?
A: Duterte did not provide a specific reason for her decision, but it is likely due to the growing tensions between the two families and the political instability in the country.

Q: Is there a threat to the life of the President and his wife?
A: The Presidential Security Command has heightened and strengthened security protocols to detect, deter, and defend against any threats to the president and the first family.

Q: Will this incident affect Duterte’s political support?
A: It is unlikely that this incident will dent Duterte’s political support, according to University of the Philippines political scientist Jean Encinas-Franco.