The Philippines faces a political storm as the National Security Council investigates an alleged assassination threat by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., described by officials as a โmatter of national security.โ
The shocking allegations surfaced Saturday when Duterte, in a fiery morning briefing, claimed to have spoken with an assassin, instructing them to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Aรฑo swiftly addressed the matter, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
โAny and all threats against the life of the president shall be validated and considered a matter of national security,โ Aรฑo stated. He pledged collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to identify the source of the threat and potential culprits.
The Presidential Security Group immediately tightened protocols to safeguard Marcos, while the national police launched a full-scale investigation into the vice presidentโs claims.
This dramatic escalation underscores the growing rift between Marcos and Duterte, who were once hailed as an unbeatable political tandem after securing a landslide victory in the 2022 elections. Their alliance has since unraveled, with policy clashes over foreign relations and lingering controversies tied to former President Rodrigo Duterteโs bloody war on drugs.
Adding to the tension, Marcosโ congressional allies are currently probing alleged corruption during Sara Duterteโs tenure as education secretary and are revisiting her fatherโs anti-drug campaign, which left over 6,000 dead in police operations.
Both Dutertes have denied any wrongdoing, and the vice president resigned from her Cabinet post in June, further highlighting the divide.
As the investigation unfolds, the Philippines remains on high alert, grappling with the implications of this unprecedented threat at the heart of its leadership.
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