Erin Devanadera 

Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim about an assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos has led to additional security measures on November 23.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine News Agency/OVP Media.

During a Zoom press conference on November 23, Duterte made provocative statements regarding the medical transfer of Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) to the Correctional Institution for Women, Mandaluyong City, on November 22. 

This came after Duterte was asked to leave Representative Paolo Duterte's office in the House of Representatives following her visit to Lopez at the House on November 21.

“May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM (President Marcos), si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke,” Duterte said in response to Lopez’s transfer and the alleged assassination plot against her office.

To address the situation, an official statement was made by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Presidential Security Command (PSC) after Duterte’s assassination claim regarding the president and his family.

“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,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in coordination with the PSC and PCO, on November 23.

“We consider this a matter of national security and shall take all necessary measures to ensure the President’s safety,” he added.

In response, Duterte issued a follow-up statement clarifying her intentions behind the claim.

“Sinabi ko, ‘Kung mamatay ako.’ Ibig sabihin in the first place, meron nang threat sa akin,” she said during a press conference at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on November 23.

“But they simply do not care that I am also concerned about my security because I hear things,” she added.

“Anong benefit nun pag nawala sila sa mundong ito for them to say there is a threat? Sa threat ko nga wala silang pakialam,” she reiterated.

Vice President Sara Duterte has undertaken several House inspections and hearings of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds from 2022 to 2024. 

On November 20, OVP Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez faced a citation for contempt during a House hearing after failing to properly present a case regarding the utilization and processing of the confidential funds.