Sara's 'assassination' remark vs Marcos 'deeply concerning' -Chiz

The statements made by Vice President Sara Duterte that she already contracted an assassin to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. if something bad happens to her were described by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero as "deeply concerning and inappropriate."

"Recent statements made by Vice President Sara Duterte are deeply concerning as they are inappropriate for an official occupying the second highest office of the land," Escudero said in a statement.

"She should keep in mind that as a public official, she has a duty to set an example for the personnel in the Office of the Vice President and our fellow Filipinos, especially our children," added Escudero.

The Senate President further urged Duterte and her allies to examine how her actions have contributed to "rising tensions, calling on all parties involved to curtail the situation to avoid additional harm to the safety, health, and well-being of everyone involved."

"I urge those who are close to her—those who truly care about her as a person and as a leader—to advise her to refrain from making these indecorous and possibly criminal statements in public. These do not benefit the Vice President, her office, or our country," he said.

Escudero pointed out that public officials should focus their energy and attention on resolving urgent and pressing concerns of the Filipino people, adding that tackling the "erratic and troubling behavior" of a high-ranking official is a needless distraction.

"Ultimately, as public servants, our actions should always be guided by this fundamental question: do my actions serve our people and benefit the country that we all love? I implore the Vice President to review and assess her recent actions and words spoken and determine if her statements meet this standard," Escudero said.

Duterte's statements came after her chief of staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez was ordered to be transferred from the House detention facility to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

'Wag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, 'pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez," Duterte said.

“Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. ‘Pag namatay ako, wag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said yes,” the Vice President said in response to reporters' questions during the media briefing.

Duterte claimed that the planned transfer was an “attempted homicide.”

Lopez was ordered detained at the lower chamber after she was cited in contempt for her supposed "undue interference" in the panel’s investigation into the confidential funds of offices held by Duterte.

While acknowledging that Duterte's actions were "unbecoming" of a Vice President, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Duterte's ally, said it only showed she is human who also feels anger and frustration.

"Kung kayo ang nasa ganiyang sitwasyon, masisikmura niyo ba ang ganiyang sitwasyon, unbecoming na kung unbecoming, pero tao lang siya na nasasaktan at nagagalit din," dela Rosa said in a radio interview.

(If you were in her situation, would you be able to accept it? If it is unbecoming, then let it be. But she is just a human being who gets hurt and angry.)

On concerns that Duterte's statement might destroy her image as a Vice President, dela Rosa said it is a matter of perspective.

"Depende 'yan sa pagtingin ng tao. Kung alam ng tao na sa sobrang galit o tindi ng emosyon 'yan, depende 'yan sa dating ng tao. Isa itong garantiya lang, masasabi si Inday Sara ay isang tao lamang, 'di 'yan plastic, 'di robot, tao lang na may emosyon din," he said.

(It depends on the person's perspective. If the person knows that it's because of extreme anger or intense emotions, then it depends. This is a guarantee that you can say that Inday Sara is just human; she's not plastic; she's not a robot; she's just a person with emotions too.)

Dela Rosa said he had spoken to Senator Imee Marcos, Marcos Jr.'s elder sister, to ask for help regarding the situation, adding that Imee had also talked to Lopez.

"Kung ano lang ang maitulong 'yun lang ang pakiusap pero noong nakausap siya ni Sen. Imee medyo napanatag ang kaniyang kalooban," he said.

(Whatever she could do to help, that was what I asked. But when Lopez spoke to Sen. Imee, her mood calmed down a bit.)

Senator Jinggoy Estrada echoed dela Rosa's statement.

"Well, hindi natin alam. Baka she said it up dahil siguro nasobrahan na siya. I mean, kung napuno na, hindi natin alam kung ano yung nasa isip ni Vice President," he said.

(Well, we don't know. Maybe she said it because maybe she was overwhelmed. I mean, if she was already full, we don't know what the Vice President was thinking.)

Estrada said he hoped for a reconciliation between Marcos and Duterte.

"Alam mo, ayoko na magkomento diyan. Pareho ko silang kaibigan. Pinagdadasal ko na lang na magkasundo na para wala na away. Alam mo ang naapektuhan dito 'yung taong bayan. Siyempre pagka mag-away ang President at Vice President, parang Mayor at Vice Mayor pag nag-away sila, nagsasuffer diyan ang taong bayan. So nagdadasal na lang ako na sana maayos na ito, lahat ng mga gusot na ito para maayos din ang ating bansa," he said.

(You know, I don't want to comment on that. They're both my friends. I'm just praying that they can come to an agreement so that there's no more fighting. What is affected by this is the Filipino people. Of course, when the President and Vice President fight, it is like when a Mayor and the Vice Mayor fight, the people suffer. So I'm just praying that this will be fixed, all these problems so that our country can be fixed as well.)

Estrada said Imee Marcos could act as a negotiator between the two camps.

Senator Christopher ''Bong'' Go said he plans to visit Duterte and Lopez and provide assistance in his personal capacity.

"Sana ay hindi na po umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon. I am also concerned sa medical condition po ni Atty. Lopez. Unahin muna natin ang kanyang kalusugan bago ang lahat. Karapatan naman po niya iyon.  Concerned rin po ako kay VP Sara Duterte — Ma’am, nandirito lang po kami, inyong kapwa Davaoeño," Go said.

(I hope it does not further reach to this kind of situation. I am also concerned about Atty. Lopez's medical condition. Let's put her health first. That is her right. I am also concerned about VP Sara Duterte — Ma'am, we are just here, your fellow Davaoeños.)

"Nakikiusap po ako sa ating mga kapwa mambabatas sa House of Representatives na hinay-hinay lang sa pagpapatupad ng contempt citation at igalang po ang karapatan ng mga resource persons. Natatakot na po ang mga resource persons dahil puro naco-contempt na po sila. Imbes na maging productive ang resulta, ay hindi na po, dahil sa takot. Tandaan natin na “in aid of legislation” naman po ito," Go added.

(I appeal to our fellow legislators in the House of Representatives to be gentle in implementing the contempt citation and respect the rights of resource persons. Resource persons are already afraid because they are constantly being cited in contempt. Instead of productive results, the outcome is opposite because of fear. Let us remember that this is “in aid of legislation.”)

"Please stop the harassment," he said, arguing that Lopez is not yet accused of any crime nor convicted, but only a resource person.

"I am appealing for reconciliation, kaya ako, bilang isang senador, ako’y umaapela sa lahat na sana po matigil na ang lahat ng bangayan. I appeal for reconciliation among our leaders. Ang kailangan ng mga Pilipino ngayon ay hindi kontrobersya, hindi away pulitika. Ang kailangan nila ay maayos na serbisyo at malasakit sa kapwa Pilipino," Go added.

(I am appealing for reconciliation. I, as a senator, appeal to everyone to please stop all the fighting. I appeal for reconciliation among our leaders. What Filipinos need now is not controversy, not political conflict. What they need is proper service and concern for fellow Filipinos.)

AFP appeals for calm

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. appealed for ''calm'' even as the military remained ''loyal to the Constitution and the Chain of Command.''

''We are facing greater challenges that require the strength of a united country and armed forces,'' Brawner said, adding that the AFP ''shall remain non-partisan, with utmost respect for our democratic institutions and civilian authority.”

“We call for calm and resolve, and for everyone to hold on to our values of respect and nationalism that will guide us in these trying times. We reiterate our need to stand together against those who will try to break our bonds as Filipinos,” Brawner said. —with Jiselle Anne Casucian/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News