Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Sparks Controversy with Assassination Remarks
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte stirred intense controversy on Saturday by claiming she had instructed an assassin to target President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the House Speaker if she were to be killed. Her statements prompted the Presidential Communications Office to announce “immediate proper action.”
A Widening Rift
In a fiery and profanity-laden press conference, Duterte alleged that she had spoken with an assassin and issued explicit instructions.
“If I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (First Lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” she said. “I said, do not stop until you kill them, and he said yes.”
Her comments came after an online commenter urged her to stay safe, suggesting she was in “enemy territory” during an overnight stay at the lower chamber of Congress. However, Duterte did not cite any specific threats against her.
Presidential Response
The Presidential Communications Office quickly issued a statement addressing Duterte’s remarks.
“Acting on the Vice President’s clear and unequivocal statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill the President if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action,” the statement read.
The office underscored the seriousness of the threat, noting its explicit and public nature.
Duterte’s office has yet to comment on the presidential statement.
Escalating Political Feud
Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been openly critical of Marcos in recent months. Her resignation from his cabinet in June signaled the collapse of the alliance that propelled them to overwhelming electoral victories in 2022.
In October, she accused Marcos of incompetence and imagined “cutting the president’s head off.” On Saturday, she continued her criticisms, saying, “This country is going to hell because we are led by a person who doesn’t know how to be a president and who is a liar.”
Adding to the tensions, House Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, recently cut the vice presidential office’s budget by nearly two-thirds.
Historical and Political Context
The feud highlights broader divisions in Philippine politics, including disagreements over foreign policy and the legacy of Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.
In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president and has no official duties, though many have pursued social development projects or served in cabinet positions.
This escalating discord comes as the nation prepares for midterm elections in May 2024, seen as a test of Marcos’ popularity and an opportunity for him to consolidate power.
A History of Political Violence
Duterte’s remarks evoke memories of past political violence in the Philippines, such as the 1983 assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino, a staunch critic of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., upon his return from exile.
The escalating feud between two of the country’s most influential political families has cast a shadow over Philippine politics and raised concerns about its stability in the months leading up to the elections.
