Philippine President Vows to Fight Back After Assassination Threat by Estranged Vice President

Tuesday 26 November 2024 - 10:00

In a startling turn of events in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pledged to take action against what he deems reckless and alarming threats made against him. The comments came after his estranged Vice President, Sara Duterte, suggested that an assassin should target Marcos and other key officials if she were to be killed.

While Marcos did not explicitly name Duterte in his national address, his message was clear, condemning such dangerous rhetoric and warning that these criminal plans must not go unchallenged. His response comes amid mounting tensions between the Marcos and Duterte families, which have previously shared a powerful political alliance.

In a video message on Monday, Marcos expressed concern over recent threats made by Duterte, calling them troubling and alarming. “The statements we heard in the past days were troubling,” said Marcos, highlighting the use of profanities and threats of violence. He firmly stated that he would not allow such criminal attempts to go unnoticed, adding, “If planning the assassination of the president is that easy, how much more for ordinary citizens?”

This controversy erupted after Duterte, during a virtual news conference, made a chilling remark in response to a question about her personal safety. Without citing any specific threats against her, Duterte suggested that, if she were killed, an assassin should take the lives of Marcos, his wife, and the speaker of the lower house. Her statement sent shockwaves through the nation, drawing condemnation from many quarters.

Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, did not directly respond to Marcos' condemnation. However, she recalled the 1983 assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., the father of current opposition leader, and blamed the Marcos family for his death—an accusation that remains unproven. Aquino, a vocal critic of the elder Marcos, was killed upon his return to the Philippines, and his assassination became a catalyst for the 1986 People Power Revolution that ultimately led to the ouster of Marcos Sr.

Sara Duterte's remarks are seen as part of a broader feud that has intensified since the collapse of the political alliance between the two powerful families. Despite Marcos' overwhelming victory in the 2022 presidential election, relations between him and Duterte have soured. Duterte resigned from her cabinet post in June and has since faced scrutiny from lawmakers over her spending, sometimes responding with hostility and failing to appear at legislative sessions.

The remarks about assassination appear to have stemmed from a growing dispute related to the vice president’s chief of staff. Duterte’s staff member was ordered to be transferred to jail after allegedly obstructing an inquiry into her alleged misuse of public funds—a claim she vehemently denies. As tensions continue to rise, it remains uncertain how the fallout will affect the country’s political landscape.

The situation serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of Philippine politics, where personal and family rivalries can spill over into violent rhetoric and threats. With both Marcos and Duterte holding significant influence, the future of their relationship—and the political stability of the Philippines—remains in question.