Philippine President Marcos Vows to Confront “Troubling” Threat from Vice President Duterte

International News Department 25/11/2024

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to confront what he described as a “troubling” threat to his safety, following explosive allegations involving Vice President Sara Duterte. In a public address, Marcos condemned the supposed threats and emphasized the importance of addressing such “criminal plans.”

Escalating Tensions Between Marcos and Duterte

In a recorded national statement, Marcos expressed alarm over recent remarks by Duterte, his former ally and running mate in the 2022 presidential election. Without naming her directly, he decried threats to his life and those of his family. His comments follow Duterte’s shocking claim in an online press briefing that she had ordered an assassin to target the president, his wife, and the parliament speaker if she were ever killed.

Duterte’s statement came in response to a question about her personal safety. She denied facing any specific threats but said, “I instructed someone to assassinate the president if I am killed.” Marcos reacted strongly, saying, “The statements we heard in the previous days were troubling. Such reckless threats must not be overlooked.”

Marcos added, “If planning to assassinate the president is this easy, what does that mean for the safety of ordinary citizens?” He pledged to take firm action, vowing, “I will fight them. I will not let such attempts go unanswered.”

Duterte’s Defense and Fallout from Their Alliance

Duterte, meanwhile, dismissed the controversy as a misunderstanding. She accused critics of misinterpreting her remarks, saying her words were “maliciously taken out of logical context.” However, the fallout from her comments reflects a deepening rift between Marcos and Duterte, whose powerful families once forged a dominant political alliance that led to a landslide victory for Marcos in 2022.

The breakdown of their partnership became evident earlier this year when Duterte resigned from her cabinet position. Since then, her tenure has been marred by disputes with lawmakers over alleged mismanagement of funds. These clashes often involved open hostility and occasional absences during congressional hearings.

In October, Duterte publicly admitted that her relationship with Marcos had deteriorated to the point of becoming “toxic,” even jokingly imagining “beheading” him during moments of frustration.

Political and Legal Implications

Duterte’s inflammatory remarks come amid mounting pressure on her family, particularly her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. The elder Duterte has faced heightened scrutiny over his administration’s controversial “war on drugs,” which led to thousands of deaths from 2016 to 2022. Recent congressional inquiries have intensified calls for accountability, and the Marcos administration has signaled a willingness to cooperate with international investigations.

Additionally, a senior Department of Justice official clarified that Vice President Duterte does not enjoy immunity from prosecution, raising the possibility of legal consequences for her statements.

The National Security Council (NSC) has declared all threats against the president as serious matters of national security. In an open letter, Duterte criticized the NSC’s position, further fueling the contentious feud.

Impact on National Politics

The ongoing conflict between Marcos and Duterte highlights a dramatic collapse of a once-formidable political alliance. Their public clashes risk destabilizing the administration and polarizing supporters across the nation.

This unprecedented feud between two of the country’s most influential families underscores the fragility of political alliances in the Philippines, where personal grievances and power struggles often take center stage in governance.

As tensions rise, the nation watches closely, uncertain of how this political drama will unfold and what it might mean for the country’s stability and leadership.