MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s threats against the lives of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand “Martin” Romualdez are being taken seriously, Malacañang said.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the death threats made by Duterte-Carpio have been referred to the Presidential Security Command.
“Acting on the Vice President’s clear and unequivocal statement, she had contracted an assassin to kill the President if an alleged plot against her succeeds. The Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action,” the PCO said in a statement.
“Any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms,” it added.
In a virtual press conference on Saturday morning, Duterte-Carpio said, “May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez,” Duterte said.
“Nagbilin na ako. ‘Pag namatay ako, wag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said yes,” the Vice President added.
An indignant Duterte-Carpio made the remark after the Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. was transferred to St. Luke’s Medical Center from the House of Representatives’ detention facility.
Lopez was ordered detained at the lower chamber until November 25 after she was cited in contempt for her supposed “undue interference” in the panel’s investigation into the confidential funds of offices held by Duterte.
Marcos was Duterte-Carpio’s running mate in the 2022 polls. The two, however, had a fall out earlier this year./PN
