Kill Switch

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Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte over the weekend threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated if she herself is killed, in a bold public threat that has escalated the ongoing feud between the former allies, the Associated Press reported.

On Saturday, Duterte accused Marcos of incompetence and of being a liar, while insulting his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Martin Romualdez.

When asked if she had concerns about her security, she claimed she had spoken with an assassin and instructed them to kill the president, the First Lady, and the speaker, in the event of her own killing.

“I said, ‘If I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke,’” Duterte said without elaborating, using the initials by which many refer to the president.

The threats quickly raised alarms in the country and the government, with officials referring to Duterte’s statements as an “active threat” against the president. Presidential security forces said they are cooperating with law enforcement agencies “to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the president and the first family.”

Meanwhile, Marcos’ office, citing the justice ministry, said the threats are being investigated and may lead to charges, Reuters added.

Under the country’s law, such public remarks can be considered a felony, punishable by jail and a fine.

After the remarks went viral, Duterte walked back her comments, countering that they were not a threat but she was only expressing concern over an unspecified threat to her own life.

Marcos and Duterte won landslide victories in the May 2022 elections under a national unity campaign. However, they soon clashed over key issues, including China’s actions in the South China Sea, leading to Duterte’s June resignation as education secretary and anti-insurgency chief.

Saturday’s comments came after lawmakers aligned with Romualdez and Marcos ordered the detention of Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, for allegedly obstructing a congressional probe into the potential misuse of her budget when vice president and education secretary.

The vice president is the daughter of Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who is also known for his brash comments.

The former president’s term was marked by a bloody anti-drug crackdown that left thousands dead.

The International Criminal Court has been investigating the former leader’s crackdown as a possible crime against humanity.