Sat Nov 23 16:05:10 UTC 2024: ## Philippine Vice President Issues Grave Threat Against President and Allies
**Manila, Philippines –** Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte issued a shocking public threat on Saturday, November 23rd, stating she had hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should she herself be killed. The Vice President, in a pre-dawn online press conference, made the threat, which she explicitly stated was not a joke.
Duterte’s statement follows the detention of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, on accusations of misusing funds. Lopez’s subsequent illness and near imprisonment further fueled Duterte’s anger, leading to a profanity-laced attack against the President, his wife, and the Speaker, accusing them of corruption and persecution.
The Presidential Security Command immediately increased security for President Marcos, classifying the Vice President’s threat as a national security issue. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred the matter to the presidential guards for immediate action. While the specific actions against Duterte remain unclear, the military chief, General Romeo Brawner, called for calm and unity, emphasizing the Armed Forces’ commitment to nonpartisanship.
The escalating conflict highlights the deep political rift between Duterte and Marcos, who ran together in the 2022 elections on a platform of national unity. This alliance quickly fractured, marked by disagreements on China’s actions in the South China Sea and Duterte’s subsequent resignation from the Marcos cabinet. Duterte’s outspoken criticism of the Marcos administration mirrors the style of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Under Philippine law, Duterte’s public threat could constitute a crime punishable by imprisonment and fines. The situation raises serious concerns about national security and stability in the Philippines.
First Piper 