MANILA — The Philippines’ security council will investigate an alleged assassination threat by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a top official stated on November 24, calling it as a “matter of national security”. In a strongly worded morning briefing on November 23, Ms Duterte stated that she spoke with an assassin and directed him to kill Mr Marcos, his wife, and the Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives if she was slain. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano stated that the government views all threats against the president as “serious,” promising to cooperate closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the threat and potential perpetrators.

“Any and all threats to the president’s life will be validated and considered a matter of national security,” Mr Ano said in a statement. In reaction to Ms Duterte’s threat, Mr Marcos’ presidential security command announced that it has reinforced its processes for protecting the Philippine leader, and the national police head has requested an investigation. Ms. Duterte and Mr. Marcos were previously political partners who won a landslide victory to command the country’s top two offices in 2022. The alliance disbanded in 2024 due to policy disputes, especially foreign policy and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal drug war.

Both have denied wrongdoing. Ms. Duterte left her Cabinet position in June. REUTERS