Thread: Philippine VP says she would have Marcos assassinated if she is killed

Philippine security agencies stepped up safety protocols on Saturday (Nov 23) after Vice President Sara Duterte said she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed.


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

"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."


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.


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.


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".


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

Duterte's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the presidential office's statement.


Her strong comments probably will not dent her political support, said Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines.


"If anything, this type of rhetoric brings her even closer to what her father's supporters liked about him."


The daughter of Marcos' predecessor as president, Duterte resigned from the Marcos cabinet in June while remaining vice president, signalling 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.

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


"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," she said in the briefing.


Duterte's outburst is the latest in a series of startling signs of the feud at the top of Philippine politics. In October, she accused Marcos of incompetence and said she had imagined cutting the president's head off.


The two families are at odds over foreign policy and former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs, among others.


In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president and has no official duties. Many vice presidents have pursued social development activities, while some have been appointed to cabinet posts.


The nation is gearing up for mid-term elections in May, seen as a litmus test of Marcos' popularity and a chance for him to consolidate power and groom a successor before his single six-year term ends in 2028.

Past political violence in the Philippines has included the assassination of Benigno Aquino, a senator who staunchly opposed the rule the elder Marcos, as he exited his plane upon arrival home from political exile in 1983.

‘Social revenge attacks’ raising concerns about deeper societal issues in China. What can be done? - CNA

The apple didn't fall far from the tree
Like father like daughter. Nutters

Be interested to here local view on this esp Topper Davis or Katie23, seems pretty childish spat, is it about money, power , personality etc?

Thanks Katie for in depth view

^you're welcome.

Btw, in case one is wondering why Sara Duterte doesn't really look like her dad & why she + her siblings look mestizo/ mestiza, it's because Sara & siblings are 1/4 European (German). Their mom (Rodrigo's 1st wife) is 1/2 German & 1/2 Filipino. She (the mom) was a flight attendant before she married Rodrigo.

(I remembered the thread in the lounge about "finding your roots", DNA tests & phenotypes.)

From my experience, it's all about families maintaining power...not only on a national level, but on a local level too. It's always the same group of last names you see as politicians.

^yes. In my congressional district, the congressman now is the son of the former congressman. The dad was the congressman when I was in my teens to early 20s. It doesn't happen in all places, but it's common.

The present mayor of Davao City, Sebastian Duterte, is the son of Rodrigo. That post was held by Rodrigo, then Sara (when Rodrigo was prez). Now, Sara is VP and her brother is the mayor.

Update re: this issue...

Pres Marcos Jr made a speech earlier today that he took the threats against him seriously and that as chief of the executive branch of govt, he will uphold the constitution & that he'll fight the plot against him. I won't link the speech since it's mostly in Tagalog.

News article:
Philippine president says he'''ll fight vice president'''s plot to have him killed - ABC News

VP Sara Duterte also had a mini press conference prior to attending the Senate investigation. She said some sour words against the present admin. (was also in Tagalog)

Sara is being investigated because of 1) malversation of funds when she was Secretary of the Dept of Education, and 2) misuse of confidential funds by the OVP (Office of the Vice President).

Former prez Rodrigo Duterte is also being investigated by the Senate for the extra judicial killings that occurred during his term.

Bavkground: there were quite a number of local politicians who were killed during Rodrigo's term. Two of them were mayors of towns near my area. One mayor was shot in broad daylight during a Monday morning flag ceremony at the town Hall. They were said to be involved in the drug trade but based on "chismis" (gossip), they belonged to opposing political parties.

The ICC (International Criminal Court) is also preparing to investigate/ prosecute Rodrigo for the killings.

TLDR: it's a power struggle between the Marcoses & the Dutertes.

(note: if Marcos Jr is k*lled or overthrown, Sara as VP will take over... Just like Lyndon Johnson did... )

Or maybe Trump & Vance? Ughh...

Philippine president’s office: VP Duterte could be prosecuted for threats to Marcos

The feud between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice-President Sara Duterte has taken an astonishing turn with Marcos vowing to “fight back” after his No. 2 openly warned that he would be assassinated should she be targeted and killed.


Duterte’s public threats made over the weekend were being investigated, and if the evidence warranted it, she could be prosecuted, the Presidential Communications Office said, citing the Philippine justice department.


President Marcos did not name his vice-president in a video conveying his response to her threats, but he termed as “reckless” what he said were threatening statements that endangered the Philippines’ leadership.


“The statements we heard in the previous days were troubling. There is the reckless use of profanities and threats to kill some of us,” Marcos said in his video message on Monday.


“I will fight back,” he said, adding that “such criminal” statements must not be ignored.


“If it’s that easy to plan the assassination of a president, how much [easier to plan against] ordinary citizens,” Marcos said.


The Marcos and Duterte families had joined hands in an alliance to win the general election two years ago, but the partnership ended acrimoniously amid pressure on the government to allow an international investigation into the drug war waged by Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s father.


Duterte on Saturday said in an online press briefing that she had hired “someone” to eliminate Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, in the event that she might be assassinated.


“No joke,” Sara Duterte said.


Vice President Duterte later tried to walk back her remarks, saying they were hypothetical.


In a statement Monday, she said that her remarks had been “maliciously taken out of logical context.”

The vice-president’s threats came after Zuleika Lopez, her chief of staff, was detained for contempt by the House.


The House good government committee said it had found that Lopez was trying to hamper an inquiry into the vice-president’s alleged misuse of 125 million pesos (U.S. $2.12 million) from her budget as the VP and former education secretary.


On Saturday, the Presidential Security Command issued a statement saying it had “heightened and strengthened its security protocols.”


“Any threat to the life of the president and the first Family, regardless of its origin – and especially one made so brazenly in public – is treated with the utmost seriousness,” the statement said.


“We consider this a matter of national security and shall take all necessary measures to ensure the president’s safety.”


‘Not a normal statement’


On Monday, House Speaker Romualdez described the threats made by the vice-president as “both alarming and unprecedented.”


“Let me be clear. This is no longer a joke. This is not a normal statement,” he said in a speech.


“This is a threat to our democracy, to our government, and the security of our nation.”


Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said it would subpoena Vice President Duterte as part of an investigation into her remarks at the press conference where she made the threats against Marcos.


The NBI is the investigating arm of the justice department.


The Vice President would be asked “to appear within five days from today” to explain her remarks, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.


Were Duterte to ignore the subpoena, the bureau would commence its investigation using any legal evidence it had, Santiago said.


“Any and all threats against the life of the president shall be validated and considered a matter of national security,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement on Sunday.


“We underscore that the safety of the President is a non-partisan issue.”

Access Denied

Good summary from TLDR news channel. It came on my feed. I started watching this channel since covid; IMO they give good overviews about issues whether from the UK, EU or global. Vid is 8+ minutes.



Now, if you'll ask me whom I'll choose between the Du30 vs Marcos clans... I'll let you know via PM.

Btw, I didn't vote for either Rodrigo or Bong2x Marcos.

Edit: in the comments section, there were lots of comments from Filipinos, saying "wow, we're on TLDR! We're famous... But for a bad thing!" (then lots of laughing smileys... Lol)

I've been visiting the Philippines since Marcos was in power. Saw a few different presidents come and go. I won't talk politics with Filipinos because I might end up pissing someone off and getting a Filipino haircut. After Marcos came Cory. A devoutly religious lady but was only voted in because of the nationwide outrage and sympathy when benigno was blatently assassinated at the airport upon his return.imho she wasn't much use for your economy next I think it might of been Ramos? A Westpoint trained military man but already old.but he did get shit done as far as I could tell. Got power generator barges towed in from Singapore to deal with Manila's brownout problems. Next I think it was erap. A guy known for being an actor in Tagalog movies who IMHO was an absolute bonehead. Then D30? Came along and just killed folk and seemed to be popular for doing so. This is just my take on it and it seems the Philippines is doing OK despite your woeful politicians. Btw I wouldn't articulate any of my opinions with my Filipino mates. I'm an outsider and therefore my opinions irrelevant. Rightly so.

If dictators persist take 2 and have a lie down