Duterte tags Marcos in Ninoy assassination as word war escalates

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte has tagged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s family in the assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. as the word war between the country’s top leaders escalates.

In a chance interview at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Duterte was asked about her response to Marcos saying he will not let the vice president’s “kill” remarks slide.

The vice president is attending the seventh hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability on her controversial fund use on Monday, Nov. 25.

Although Duterte said she has yet to personally read Marcos’ response, she made direct jibes at the presidential family.

“Hindi ba pumalag nga yung buong bayan noong pinatay ng pamilya nila si Benigno Aquino Jr?” Duterte said.

[Translation: Didn't the entire nation protest when their family killed Benigno Aquino Jr.?]

Aquino was assassinated by a lone gunman on Aug. 21 1983 on the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport. To this date, it hasn’t been proven that Marcoses ordered the murder of Aquino.

Meanwhile, Duterte said she will “gladly answer” questions from the National Bureau of Investigation who will issue a subpoena against her for her remarks against the presidential family.

The vice president earlier said in a briefing last week she ordered someone to kill Marcos and his wife Liza, as well as House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she herself gets killed. Although Duterte said she was not kidding at the time she made the remark, she later claimed her statements were “taken out of logical context” as a security concern.