Security measures across the Philippines have been tightened as the country reels from an extraordinary statement by Vice President Sara Duterte.ย In a shocking and profanity-laden speech, Duterte threatened the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if her own life were to be takenโlaying bare a deepening rift between the nationโs two most powerful political figures.
“This country is going to hell because we are led by a person who doesnโt know how to be a president and who is a liar,” Duterte declared in a fiery briefing livestreamed on her Facebook page Saturday.
In a no-holds-barred moment, she continued: “Donโt worry about my safety. I have talked to a person and I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM [Marcos], [First Lady] Liza Araneta, and [Speaker] Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke. I said, do not stop until you kill them, and he said yes.”
Despite making no mention of any specific threat to her life, Duterteโs remarks have ignited a storm in Philippine politics.
Government Response
The presidential communications office swiftly condemned the comments, calling them a serious threat to national security. “Acting on the vice presidentโs clear and unequivocal statement, the executive secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action,” it said in a statement.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin labeled Duterteโs public threats as a pressing national security issue, tasking the elite presidential guards to address the matter.
“Any threat to the life of the president must always be taken seriously, more so when revealed in such brazen and public terms,” the statement read.
A Political Alliance in Tatters
Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was once an indispensable ally of Marcos. Their joint ticket swept the 2022 elections in a landslide, signaling the merger of two powerful dynasties.
However, cracks began to show earlier this year when Duterte resigned from her role as education secretary in Marcosโs cabinet, citing personal differences.
The vice president has not minced words about their souring relationship. In October, she described their dynamic as “toxic,” even admitting she sometimes imagined beheading him.
Adding to the drama, Duterte threatened to exhume the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from the National Heroesโ Cemetery and dump his remains into the seaโanother signal of her growing animosity toward the Marcos family.
Political Fallout
The deepening rift couldnโt come at a more critical time for the Marcos administration. The Philippines is gearing up for mid-term elections in May 2025, which will be a crucial test of Marcosโs popularity and his ability to consolidate power. Duterteโs fiery rhetoric and her role as the constitutional successor to the presidency add further uncertainty to the political landscape.
Her latest remarks stem from growing scrutiny of her office after her chief of staff was detained in the House of Representatives for allegedly failing to respond to questions about misused funds. Duterte has framed the detainment as a politically motivated attackโfueling the flames of her feud with Marcos.
Echoes of the Past
Sara Duterteโs incendiary language mirrors the controversial style of her father, Rodrigo Duterte, whose presidency was marked by a bloody war on drugs and sharp rhetoric. Like her father, Saraโs combative tone has drawn both fierce criticism and admiration from supporters who view her as a fearless disruptor.
As the nation grapples with this escalating power struggle, the future of Philippine politics appears more uncertain than ever. Whether this clash will lead to lasting change or further entrench the countryโs political divisions remains to be seen.
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