Leaders from across the political spectrum assailed Vice President Sara Duterte for publicly threatening the lives of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said Duterte’s statement was not only a heinous crime but also a betrayal of the highest order.
“The gravity of these statements cannot be overstated. A kill-order on the President shakes the very foundation of our democratic institutions,” he said.
Senate President Francis Escudero said the Vice President’s statements were “deeply concerning as they are inappropriate.”
“I urge those who are close to her–those who truly care about her as a person and as a leader – to advise her to refrain from making these indecorous and possibly criminal statements in public. These do not benefit the Vice President, her office, or our country,” he said.
The League of Cities of the Philippines, which counts 149 mayors as members, said Duterte’s “outburst…is both unbecoming of her office and deeply irresponsible.”
“Such recklessness endangers not only the safety of our leaders but also the peace and security of the entire Filipino nation,” the group said in a statement.
“We, the 149 members of the League of Cities of the Philippines, demand an immediate cessation of all inflammatory rhetoric and personal attacks. The use of public funds by the Vice President’s Office must be addressed in a manner befitting the gravity of public trust, not through accusations, name-calling, or divisive conduct. We urge all parties involved to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect, particularly among our government officials, who represent the Filipino people.”
Former Senator Leila de Lima, for her part, dismissed Duterte’s outburst as “political drama staged by the OVP to divert the issue from its plunder of confidential funds.”
“What to do with a VP who openly threatens murder on a sitting President and his wife in a mega meltdown? Under ordinary circumstances, impeachment,” De Lima wrote on X.
At the House, both the Majority and Minority leaders criticized Duterte’s actions.
“The people deserve to know the full extent of this (assassination) plot, including any potential abuse of power or betrayal of public trust. The integrity of our democracy demands nothing less,” House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe Dalipe said.
Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan urged the Vice President to heed the advice of her father, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, to get out of politics.
“We strongly urge the Vice President to listen to her father’s counsel for her to step away from politics before it’s too late. She is clearly unlike her father. It would appear that she makes crucial judgments and issues utterly reckless pronouncements without any preparation or thoughtful consideration,” he said.
“The Vice President lacks both the gumption and the grace required of a national leader,” he added.
Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores likewise urged the Department of Justice to study Duterte’s liability.
“Death threats, especially directed at the President, should never be taken lightly,” he said.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas – the political party of the President – said the statements made by the Vice President “undermine the rule of law and foster a culture of lawlessness and impunity.”
“Such rhetoric has no place in a democracy, in a Bagong Pilipinas that values accountability, peace, and order. We urge our leaders to transcend personal and political interests, prioritize unity over division, and commit to fostering peace and moral recovery,” the PFP said.
