From left to right: House Speaker Martin Romualdez, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (Facebook)

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has called for "heightened security" measures to protect President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

This, after Vice President Sara Duterte issued what appeared to be threats to the lives of the three.

Adiong, a House assistant majority leader, described Duterte’s statements as reckless and destabilizing.

He said such statements should neither be dismissed nor taken lightly.

“Ang Pangulo at ang Speaker ay mahalagang haligi ng ating demokrasya. Anumang banta laban sa kanila ay banta rin sa seguridad ng ating bansa (The President and the Speaker are important pillars of our democracy. Any threats to their persons are also threats to our country's security).It is imperative that we ensure their safety at all costs,” Adiong said in a statement Saturday, Nov. 23.

In a Zoom press conference on Friday night, Nov. 22, Vice President Duterte claimed that she had instructed an unnamed individual to target the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker if the event that she gets assassinated.

“This rhetoric is deeply irresponsible and deeply troubling. We do not want these kind of threats be directed against anyone, not to the sitting President, the Speaker or even to the Vice President herself. Instead of fostering unity, it incites fear and division, creates an atmosphere of insecurity among the top echelon of our government and promotes a culture of violence," he said.

"We must take these threats seriously and provide heightened security for the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker...The safety of our leaders is paramount to maintaining the trust and confidence of the people in our democratic institutions,” Adiong underscored.

He points out that protecting the nation’s leaders is crucial not just for their personal safety but for preserving the stability and integrity of the government and securing the democratically-elected leaders of the country. 

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The House leader also called on Duterte to retract her statements and clarify her intentions.

“Kung may mga isyung kailangang harapin, dapat itong sagutin nang maayos at direkta (If there are issues that need to be faced, then these must be addressed properly and directly).Threats have no place in governance, especially against our top leaders,” Adiong stressed.

“We must send a clear message: threats against our leaders will not be tolerated," he further said.