Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has referred to the Presidential Security Command (PSC) the death threats that Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly made against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.
This is in reaction to the statement made by the Vice President that if in case she gets killed she already contracted an assassin to kill the President, the First Lady and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The statement of the Executive Secretary was issued through the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) that reads:
“Acting on the Vice President’s clear and unequivocal statement that she has contracted an assassin to kill the President if an alleged plot to kill her succeeds, the Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action. Any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms.”
Duterte made the remarks after the House of Representatives’ Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability ordered the transfer of her detained chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez to the Custodial Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.
Lopez has been detained since Wednesday after she was cited in contempt for her alleged “undue interference” to the house panel’s probe on the Duterte’s confidential funds.
In a virtual press conference on Saturday morning, Duterte addressed the question from Princess Maui, a Duterte supporter who expressed concern over the security of the vice president.
“Wag kang mag alala sa security ko mam kasi may kinausap na akong tao sinabi ko sa kanya na kapag pinatay ako patayin mo si BBM, Liza Araneta at Martin Romualdez, it’s no joke, nagbilin na ako.” Duterte said.
Aside from the statement coming from the Executive Secretary, President Marcos himself has not reacted yet to the pronouncement of the vice president.
(Office of the President of the Philippines-Malacanang photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.