Widening Rift Between Duterte and Marcos Families Sparks Political Turmoil
MANILA – Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte made a shocking declaration on Thursday, November 23, stating she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along with his wife and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, assassinated if she were to be killed. Her remarks prompted the presidential office to pledge “immediate proper action.”
Duterte’s Explosive Claims
During a profanity-laden press conference, Ms. Duterte claimed to have spoken to an assassin and instructed them to target Mr. Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez in retaliation for her death.
“I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” Duterte stated. “I said, do not stop until you kill them, and then he said yes.”
She made the comments while responding to an online commenter urging her to stay safe, citing her presence at the lower chamber of Congress as being in “enemy territory.” Ms. Duterte did not specify any immediate threats to her safety but accused the President of leading the country to “hell” and called him a “liar.”
Presidential Office Responds
The Presidential Communications Office swiftly reacted, calling the remarks a serious threat to national security.
“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,” the office stated, adding that the matter had been referred to the Presidential Security Command for urgent investigation.
Ms. Duterte’s office has not issued a response to the presidential statement.
A Collapsing Political Alliance
The Duterte-Marcos alliance, once a formidable force in Philippine politics, appears to be unraveling. Ms. Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, resigned from Mr. Marcos’ Cabinet in June but remains vice-president. The feud has intensified in recent months, with Duterte accusing Marcos of incompetence and claiming in October she had imagined “cutting the president’s head off.”
Budget disputes have also fueled tensions, with Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, slashing the vice-presidential office’s funding by nearly two-thirds.
Historical and Political Context
The feud has drawn comparisons to the Philippines’ turbulent political history, including the 1983 assassination of opposition senator Benigno Aquino Jr., which contributed to the eventual fall of the Marcos dictatorship. Analysts suggest the current conflict could impact mid-term elections in May 2024, seen as a crucial test of Marcos’ popularity and ability to consolidate power before his term ends in 2028.
The escalating clash between two of the Philippines’ most influential political families underscores deep divisions in the nation’s leadership. With accusations of incompetence, personal threats, and policy disputes, the conflict poses serious implications for the country’s governance and stability in the lead-up to pivotal elections.