The growing rift between the two most powerful political families in the Philippines became public after the Southeast Asian country’s Vice President Sara Duterte said she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated if she were killed. Ms. Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Now, law and order officials in the Philippines are “investigating” the threats made by their Vice President, and Ms Duterte could be prosecuted if evidence is found to support her claims.
“Duterte’s threats are now under investigation and he may face charges,” the Presidential Communications Office said, citing the Justice Ministry.
“If the evidence proves true, it could ultimately lead to a prosecution,” Mr. Marcos’ office said in a statement.
The Philippines’ Security Council has also taken cognizance of the matter and is “verifying” the alleged assassination threat. National security adviser Eduardo Año said the government considered all threats to the president “serious”, vowing to work closely with the law enforcement and intelligence communities to investigate the threat and potential perpetrators.
“Any and all threats against the President’s life will be recognized and treated as a matter of national security,” Mr. Año said in a statement.
VP’s threat and reaction
Addressing a press conference on Saturday morning, Ms Duterte said, “I talked to someone. I told them, if I’m killed, go and BBM (Marcos), (First Lady) Liza Araneta and (Speaker ) Kill Martin Romualdez.” No joke. No joke.”
“I said, don’t stop until they’re dead, and the man agreed,” he was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
Duterte’s threat stemmed from lawmakers ordering the transfer of his chief of staff to jail for obstructing an investigation into alleged misuse of public funds by the vice president.
In response to Duterte’s threat, Marcos’ Presidential Security Command said it had tightened its protocols in protecting the Philippine leader and the national police chief ordered an investigation.
Rift between political families of the Philippines
Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Mr. Marcos, once political partners, won a landslide mandate to lead the country’s top two offices in 2022. The coalition fell apart this year over policy differences, including foreign policy and a deadly attack on the elder Duterte. War on drugs.
Marcos’ congressional allies are separately investigating Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign, which led to anti-drug operations that left more than 6,000 people dead, and alleged corruption over the use of public funds during Sara Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. . Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Ms Duterte resigned from the Marcos cabinet in June while still vice president, signaling the collapse of a formidable political alliance that had helped her and the late authoritarian leader’s son and namesake Mr Marcos secure their 2022 election victory by a wide margin. Helped.
Subsequently, Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Mr. Marcos, cut the budget of the Office of the Vice President by nearly two-thirds.
Ms Duterte’s outburst is the latest in a series of shocking signs of the feud at the top of Philippine politics. In October, he accused Mr. Marcos of incompetence and said he had fantasized about beheading the president.
Philippines’ system of government
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 positions.
The country is preparing for midterm elections in May, seen as a litmus test of Mr Marcos’ popularity and a chance for him to consolidate power and groom a successor before his six-year term ends in 2028. There is a chance of.
