Mon Nov 25 12:07:51 UTC 2024: ## Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Subpoenaed Over Alleged Plot to Assassinate President Marcos
**Manila, Philippines** – The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte, accusing her of masterminding a plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Duterte has been given five days to respond.
The move follows a weekend press conference where Duterte claimed she ordered the president’s assassination should an alleged plot against her own life succeed. She also named First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Presidential cousin Martin Romualdez as potential targets. The DOJ’s Undersecretary Jesse Andres stated that the government is acting to protect the president and that the alleged plot will face legal consequences. A manhunt is underway for the alleged assassin.
President Marcos Jr., in his first public statement on the matter, described the threat as “disturbing” and vowed to uphold the law. He emphasized that the vice president is not immune from prosecution.
Duterte, who plans to respond to the subpoena, stated she will answer the DOJ’s questions but expects her own questions to be answered as well. The incident has dramatically escalated the already fractured relationship between Duterte and Marcos, whose alliance won the 2022 election in a landslide.
The deterioration of their relationship is further complicated by ongoing investigations into Duterte’s finances, which have seen the detention of her chief of staff. Both Duterte and Romualdez are expected to run for president in 2028, fueling speculation that the current conflict is politically motivated. Mutual accusations of drug addiction between the two camps have further inflamed the situation. Neither side has provided evidence to support these claims.
The DOJ’s action marks a significant escalation in the conflict, raising questions about the stability of the Philippine government and the upcoming midterm elections.
First Piper 