Marcos vows to block 'criminal' moves amid Sara Duterte's 'threat'

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to block "criminal attempts" amid Vice President Sara Duterte's remark that she would have him, his wife and Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she herself were assassinated.

''Kung ganun na lang kadali ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang Presidente, papaano pa kaya ang mga pangkaraniwan na mamamayan?'' Marcos said in a video statement.
 
''Yang ganyang krimimal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. 'Yan ay aking papalagan,'' Marcos added.

Marcos did not mention Duterte by name but was obviously referring to her in his statement.

'Kuwentong chicheria'

''Ang katotohanan ay hindi dapat i-tokhang. Tapos na sana ang usapang ito kung tutuparin lamang ang sinumpaang  panata na bilang lingkod bayan ay magsabi ng totoo, at hindi hahadlangan,'' he said.
 
''Imbes na derechahang sagot, nililihis pa sa kuwentong chicheria,'' the President added, a possible take on 'Mary Grace Piattos,' a signature that appeared in acknowledgment receipts for confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Duterte's incendiary remarks over the weekend came amid a House panel investigation into the alleged questionable budget use of the OVP and DepEd when it was under her leadership.

At the beginning of his video message, Marcos said he finds such statements "alarming."

"Nakakabahala ang mga pahayag na narinig natin nitong mga nakaraang araw. Nandiyan ang walang pakundangang pagmumura at ang pagbabanta ng planong ipapatay ang ilan sa atin," he said.

As this developed, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said a subpoena would be issued against the vice president following her assassination remark. Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres told reporters at a Palace press briefing that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has the power to do this.

Marcos and Duterte were running-mates in the 2022 elections but their relationship soured as the years went by, with Duterte resigning from DepEd earlier this year and becoming a critic of the administration.

Sara hits back

Duterte, in response, said she would also not let what the Marcos camp has been doing to her slide. 

“Hindi ko pa nababasa ang mga statement pero ‘pag nabasa ko na, maghanda kami ng sagot kasi hindi ko rin palalampasin ang ginagawa nila sa akin,” she said in an ambush interview at the House of Representatives.

(I haven't read the statements yet, but when I do, we will prepare an answer because I will not also let what they’re doing to me slide.)

The Vice President also said she will “gladly answer” all the questions that the NBI will ask her once she gets summoned. 

“Pero dapat sumagot din sila sa mga tanong ko sa kanila. Mag-uusap na lang kami do’n kapag andyan na ‘yung subpoena,” Duterte added. 

(They should also answer my questions. We'll just talk when the subpoena has been issued.) 

Respect Congress

Marcos, in his video statement, said he respects the independence of the legislative branch of the government, particularly its power to conduct investigations on certain issues. 

''Labindalawang taon din ako nanungkulan sa magkaparehong kamara ng Kongreso. Batid ko ang kapangyarihan iginawad sa kanila ng taumbayan at ng ating Konstitusyon. Dahil dito, iginagalang ko ang kanilang gawain bilang isang independenteng sangay ng ating republika,'' Marcos said.

Marcos said even the Executive Branch and other government offices are usually being put under scrutiny. 

Amid all Duterte's scathing remarks, Marcos said his attention is focused on governing the country and enforcing the rule of law. He also vowed that he would not let politics become a disruption in achieving his goals for the country.

''Sa kabila ng mga pambabatikos, nakatuon ang aking pansin sa pamamahala. Ngunit hindi natin ikokompromiso ang Rule of Law. Kailangan manaig ang batas sa anumang sitwasyon, sinuman ang tamaan,'' Marcos said.
 
''Kaya hindi ko hahayaang mag tagumpay ang hangarin ng iba na hatakin ang buong bansa sa burak ng pulitika,'' he added. 

Duterte made her remark about killing the President and the others during an online media conference held at the House of Representatives, where OVP chief of staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez was detained after being cited in contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

She later clarified that her statement was not a threat, explaining that she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security.

The National Security Council said Sunday that it considers all threats to Marcos as serious and a matter of national security.  —with Giselle Ombay/KBK/VDV, GMA Integrated News