Sara Duterte: Kill remark vs Marcos 'taken out of logical context'

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday stood firm that her statement that she ordered to have President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. killed if an alleged plot against her succeeds was “maliciously taken out of logical context.”

This was after the National Security Council said Sunday it considers all threats to Marcos as serious and a matter of national security. 

Duterte, in return, questioned why as a member of the NSC, she has not been invited to the meetings of the council, which National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said is “closely coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives.”  

“I would like to see a copy of the notice of meeting with proof of service, the list of attendees, photos of the meeting, and the notarized minutes of meeting where the Council, whether present or past, resolved to consider the remarks by a Vice President against a President, maliciously taken out of logical context, as a national security concern,” Duterte said.

“Moreover, please submit within 24 hours, an explanation in writing with legal basis why the VP is not a member of the NSC or why as member I have not been invited to the meetings, whichever is applicable,” she added.

The Vice President also urged the NSC to include in the agenda for the next meeting her request to present to the council the alleged threats to her, the entire Office of the Vice President (OVP), and its personnel. 

She also asked Año to send to her the notarized minutes of all meetings conducted by the council from June 30, 2022. 

“I want to review what the council has accomplished so far, in terms of policies and recommendations for national security,” Duterte said. 

“I urge all National Security Council members and the Filipino people to demand transparency and accountability from the personnel of NSC.”

In a statement, the NSC responded to Duterte saying that any threat to the life of the president is always considered a national security concern because “it puts the country's stability and governance at risk.”

“The President's safety is crucial for maintaining continuity of government, ensuring national security, and upholding the rule of law, regardless of political views or affiliations. Threats to the President's life can have far-reaching consequences, such as instability and undermining the country's democratic institutions and the rule of law and the Constitution, the very bedrock of Philippine society,” the NSC said.

“We wish to emphasize that the safety of the President is a non-partisan or non-political concern. Instead of casting aspersions on the NSC, let us just wait for the results of the validation and investigation of law enforcement and security agencies,” it added.

Also on Monday, an official from the Presidential Security Command (PSC) said Marcos' security has been doubled following Duterte's assassination remark against the First Couple and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

"Ang instructions sa amin dito ido-double natin ang security ni President, lalo sa mga upcoming activities niya mas pinaigting natin 'yung security," Major Nestor Endozo, PSC civil military operations officer, told Palace reporters.

(The instruction to us was that the President's security will be doubled, especially on his upcoming activities. We will heighten security.)

Endozo, however, said there was no instruction yet to limit the public engagements of the President.

Duterte made the kill remark early Saturday morning during a media conference at the House of Representatives where Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff and undersecretary Zuleika Lopez was detained after being cited in contempt.

Specifically, she said she contracted a person to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez, if she herself gets killed.

“Huwag 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.

(I've already spoken to someone, so don't worry about my security. I told that person to kill BBM [Marcos' initials], Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez if I were to be slain.)

“Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. ‘Pag namatay ako, huwag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said 'yes.'''

(Ma'am, I've already left a directive. After I die, don't stop until you've killed them all. And then he said, "Yes.")

Duterte later on clarified that her “assassination” statement was not a threat, saying she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also now investigating the statement of the Vice President.

“The matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation. If the evidence warrants, this could lead to eventual prosecution,” the DOJ said, as forwarded by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to members of the media on Sunday. —KBK/VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News