Assassination threat in the Philippines: Vice President summoned

Following public threats of violence by Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the politician is in legal trouble: the National Bureau of Investigation has summoned Duterte for Friday.

She is to make a statement to the chief investigator there. A few days ago, the 46-year-old declared that she would have Marcos Jr. killed if she herself was murdered.

Duterte wrote on Facebook that she was in contact with someone who was prepared to kill Marcos, his wife and a cousin - the Speaker of the House of Representatives - if she herself was killed. This is "no joke", she assured.

Police launch manhunt for killer

The Vice President made the statements in response to online comments that she should take care of her own safety in the House of Representatives. Earlier, her chief of staff had been arrested after he failed to answer questions during a hearing on the alleged misuse of funds.

Duterte will be summoned to shed light on the investigation into alleged grave threats and possible violation of the anti-terrorism law, it was now said. The police also launched a manhunt for the killer whom Duterte allegedly contacted.

The politician, however, emphasized that her statements had been "taken out of their logical context".

Toxic relationship

Marcos Jr. had called for Duterte to be held accountable for her threat. "If it is so easy to plan the assassination of a president, what about ordinary citizens?" he asked in a video message. Both the president and his vice president are offspring of the two most influential political families in the island state.

A political alliance between Duterte and Marcos Jr. helped them both to victory in the 2022 elections. However, there was a rift before the mid-term elections, in which the Filipinos elected new members of the House of Representatives, among other things.

In October, Duterte spoke of a now "toxic" relationship with Marcos Jr. and expressed fantasies of violence: "I imagine myself cutting off his head."

SDA