Philippines boosts security after VP's assassination threat against president

Philippine security agencies have increased safety measures after Vice President Sara Duterte made alarming statements about having President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated if she were killed. In a dramatic press conference, Duterte claimed that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Martin Romualdez, should anything happen to her.

"I have talked to a person. I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke," she said during the briefing, which was filled with strong language. Duterte made the comments in response to an online message advising her to stay safe, noting her presence in the lower chamber of Congress overnight. She did not specify any immediate threats to her safety.

In response, the Presidential Security Command heightened security measures and emphasized its coordination with law enforcement agencies to address any threats to the president and his family. Police Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered an urgent investigation into Duterte's comments, affirming that any threat to the president’s life would be treated with the highest priority.

Despite the gravity of her statements, Duterte later downplayed the situation, stating that "thinking and talking about it is different from actually doing it" and confirmed that she had been threatened. She suggested that if she were to die, an investigation would follow, with further inquiries into the deaths of Marcos and others.

This controversial rhetoric is unlikely to harm Duterte’s political standing, according to political science professor Jean Encinas-Franco, who suggested that such remarks may strengthen her support base, similar to her father’s political appeal.

Duterte, who resigned from Marcos' cabinet in June but retained her position as vice president, has expressed increasing tension with the Marcos family. The rivalry includes disputes over foreign policy and the handling of the war on drugs initiated by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. The vice presidency in the Philippines, elected separately from the presidency, has traditionally been a position with limited formal duties. Duterte's remarks are the latest in a series of indications that the relationship between the Duterte and Marcos families has deteriorated.

As the Philippines approaches mid-term elections in May, these tensions could have significant political ramifications for Marcos’ leadership. The upcoming elections are seen as a critical opportunity for Marcos to secure his position and prepare for a potential successor before his term ends in 2028.

The Philippines has a history of political violence, including the 1983 assassination of opposition senator Benigno Aquino, who was killed as he returned from political exile, highlighting the country's troubled political history.