Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte made a startling announcement on Saturday, claiming that she had hired an assassin to target President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the Speaker of the House if she were to be killed.
In a press conference, Duterte stated, “I’ve given my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.’ And he said, ‘yes.’” This declaration, directed at President Marcos, has been labeled by officials as a “serious matter of national security.”
Duterte and Marcos, who ran together in the 2022 elections on a unity ticket, experienced a sharp rift that led to her resignation from his cabinet.
Under the Philippine Constitution, if a sitting president dies, the vice president assumes the presidency for the remainder of the term.
Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his advocacy of extrajudicial killings during his leadership in Davao City, has prompted House leaders to call for an investigation into her threats.
