Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to confront Vice President Sara Duterte over her public claim that she had ordered an assassin to kill him, his wife, and the House Speaker if she were to be killed. The unprecedented remarks have deepened the rift between the country's top two officials, raising serious political and national security concerns.
"Such criminal plans should not be overlooked," Marcos said during a televised address on Monday. While he refrained from directly naming Duterte, his message was unmistakable. "I will fight them. As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law."
Duterte's statement, made during an online press conference on Saturday, stunned the nation. Addressing concerns about her safety, she said, "Don't worry about my security because I've talked with somebody. I said, 'If I'm killed, you'll kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke.'" BBM is the commonly used initials of the president.
The vice president later attempted to explain her remarks, claiming they were "maliciously taken out of logical context." She added, "Why would I kill him if not for revenge from the grave? There is no reason for me to kill him. What's the benefit for me?" Despite her clarification, the comments have sparked outrage and prompted an official investigation.
The National Security Council deemed Duterte's remarks a matter of national security, with Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres announcing that she would be subpoenaed for questioning. "We have to maintain order in a civilized society by adherence to the rule of law, and we will apply the full strength and force of the law on this," Andres said. He described Duterte as a "self-confessed mastermind" of a "premeditated plot to assassinate the president."
Marcos, underscoring the gravity of the situation, said, "If planning the assassination of the president is that easy, how much more for ordinary citizens?" Security for the president, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been bolstered in response.
The conflict between Marcos and Duterte reflects the dramatic collapse of their political alliance, which had delivered them landslide victories in the 2022 elections. Their partnership began unraveling over policy differences, particularly regarding Marcos's handling of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. Duterte resigned from Marcos's Cabinet in June, signaling a sharp division in their once-cohesive front.
Recent events have further strained their relationship. Duterte's chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was detained during a congressional investigation into allegations of misused public funds from Duterte's office. The vice president accused Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez of orchestrating a campaign against her. She also accused them of corruption and incompetence in expletive-laden remarks.
House Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, dismissed Duterte's accusations as an attempt to deflect attention from her own controversies. Lawmakers allied with Marcos condemned Duterte's comments as irresponsible and destabilizing.
Duterte, like her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has a reputation for controversial and provocative remarks. The elder Duterte is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity tied to his bloody anti-drug campaign. The Marcos administration recently indicated it may cooperate with international efforts to hold the former president accountable-a stance that has added to tensions with Duterte's family.
As the investigation into Duterte's remarks progresses, political analysts warn that the crisis could destabilize the administration and erode public trust in the government. Duterte has expressed willingness to face questioning or an impeachment complaint but vowed not to let the issue drop. "I will also not allow what they did to me to pass," she told reporters.
