Kill remarks vs. Marcos ‘maliciously taken out of logical context’ as security concern — VP

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said on Monday, Nov. 25, her statements ordering to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if she gets murdered, were “maliciously taken out of logical context” as a security concern.

In a statement and open letter to the National Security Council, Duterte responded to the security body’s pronouncements that her remarks against Marcos are a matter of national security.

“I would like to see a copy of the notice of meeting with proof of service, the list of attendees, photos of the meeting, and the notarized minutes of meeting where the Council, whether present or past, resolved to consider the remarks by a Vice President against a President,” she said.

“Please include in the agenda for the next meeting my request to present to the Council the threats to the Vice President, the OVP institution and its personnel,” Duterte added.

Duterte over the weekend said she had asked someone to kill the president, First Lady Liza Araneta, and Marcos’ cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself will be assassinated.

The vice president said she has not received a single notice of meeting from NSC since she assumed office on June 30, 2022.

She also asked the agency to explain in writing why she was not named as a council member and why she was never invited to NSC meetings.

NSC is a collegial body chaired by the President, involving concerned officials of the Cabinet and Congress, as members, as well as other government officials and private citizens who may be invited by the chief executive.

Based on the Administrative Code of 1987, the council “shall be composed of the President as Chairman, the Vice-President, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Executive Secretary, the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of Labor and Employment, the Secretary of Local Governments, the National Security Director, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and such other government officials and private individuals as the President may appoint.”

“I urge all National Security Council members and the Filipino people to demand transparency and accountability from the personnel of NSC,” Duterte said.