NSA says all threats vs. President ‘a matter of nat’l security’
The Department of Justice is investigating the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is suddenly murdered.
“The matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation. If the evidence warrants, this could lead to eventual prosecution,” the DOJ said in a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office on Sunday.
National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago said the Vice President’s video was not manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence.
During a press conference via Zoom early Saturday morning, Duterte issued the threat after the House of Representatives detained her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, after being cited in contempt.
“I have talked to a person. I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” Duterte said.
“I said, ‘do not stop until you kill them’ and then he said ‘yes.’” the Vice President added.
The National Security Council on Sunday said it considered all threats to the President as serious.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said any and all threats against the life of the President shall be validated and considered a matter of national security.
“We shall be closely coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives. We shall do our utmost in defense of our democratic institutions and processes which the President represents,” he said.
“We underscore that the safety of the President is a non-partisan issue, and we stand united in our commitment to upholding the integrity of the office and the democratic institutions that govern our great nation,” Año added.
Following Duterte’s tirade, the Presidential Security Command tightened security measures, saying they consider the threat a “matter of national security.”
The Philippine National Police also said it would also investigate Duterte’s statement.
“The safety of the President is a national concern and any direct or indirect threat to his life must be addressed with the highest level of urgency,” PNP Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said.
Meanwhile, a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said Duterte’s kill threat against the President and her repeated cursing during the press conference were grounds for disbarment from legal practice.
“It might amount to a violation of Canon 1 of our profession, that a lawyer shall uphold the constitution, obey the laws of the land and promote respect for law and legal processes,” former IBP president Domingo Cayosa said in a radio interview.
“If you contract someone to kill someone else if something happens to you, that is not respect for our laws and legal processes so that is a very unethical legal conduct,” he added.
Cayosa described Duterte’s behavior as “unthinkable,” adding that the Supreme Court of the IBP can start a probe into the Vice President’s conduct even without a formal complaint.
“We pray that this is not a meltdown. We should pray for her. It would be good if she consults a medical professional or a psychiatrist,” he said.
