Palace on thwarted Duterte slay plot: President eats threats for breakfast 

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Thursday reassured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte is "untouched" by threats after the police thwarted an assassination plot against him.

"The President is pretty much untouched by these threats. Concerned but not worried," Abella told a news conference in Malacañang.

Abella further explained that even Duterte himself knew that he is putting his life in danger as he pursues his campaign against illegal drugs and terrorism.

"He eats threats for breakfast. Meaning to say, it is not something new to him. He said it again and again that he puts his honor, his life, his presidency on the line. It is a very heroic stand," he said.

"Because he really understands that there is call to war on several fronts already: war on drugs, war on terrorism, and war on crime. He is engaged in several fronts and he is really aware that his life is constantly under threat," Abella noted.

Despite the threats, Abella said that it will be business as usual for the President and said he doubts Duterte will lessen trips out of the comforts and security of Malacañang.

Earlier in the day, police claimed to have thwarted the slay plot after busting a suspected gun smuggling syndicate supposed to sell gun parts to a group planning to kill the President. 

"Ang sabi sa akin ng boss ko, 'yung number one customer namin may balak umorder ng lower end gun parts at gagamitin sa assasination [kay] President Duterte," said Wilford Palma, who admitted to being part of the gun smuggling group.  — RSJ, GMA News