Philippine Vice President skips hearing due to ‘threat’ to Marcos – DW – 29.11.2024

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday ignored a subpoena over statements in which she clearly claimed she told someone to assassinate President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. if he were to be killed.

The alliance between Duterte and Marcos is becoming increasingly tense due to the elections to be held in May 2025.

What did Sara Duterte say?

In an online press conference on Sunday, Duterte claimed that he had instructed an assassin to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and her cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if allegations of threats against his life were carried out.

“If I die, don’t stop until I kill them,” he said. “It’s no joke.”

Hours after Duterte’s speech, the presidential palace said it was treating the comments as an “active threat.”

Duterte later denied that his statement constituted a death threat, maintaining that he was merely expressing his “surprise” toward Marcos. Duterte resigned from Marcos’ cabinet in June while remaining as vice president.

Duterte’s lawyer said Friday that the vice president was busy with “office matters that require his urgent attention.”

National Bureau of Investigation director Jaime Santiago said the meeting with investigators had been postponed until December 11 and insisted the politician was “not immune from prosecution.”

Marcos rejects ‘storm in a teacup’

The Philippine President said the issue is not about ordinary citizens.

“This is a storm in a teacup,” Marcos said at the press conference.

“That doesn’t matter. This won’t make a difference in even a single Filipino’s life, so why waste our time on it?” He talked about a possible impeachment hearing against Duterte.

Rep. France Castro told national broadcaster ABS-CBN News that representatives in the lower house plan to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte for betrayal of public trust, bribery and other crimes.

Duterte and Marcos won the 2022 elections by a landslide.

The two have been at odds over many issues, including whether to strengthen ties with Beijing or Washington.

The two politicians also clashed over the anti-drug campaign launched by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, that led to thousands of deaths.

sdi/zc (AP, AFP, Reuters)