The National Security Council (NSC) said Sunday, Nov. 24, that the supposed threat made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Marcos Jr. is considered a national security concern.
As such, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said it will investigate the matter to determine any possible liability on the part of the Vice President.
“The National Security Council considers all threats to the President of the Philippines as serious. Any and all threats against the life of the President shall be validated and considered a matter of national security,” he said.
The NSA confirmed that the council has coordinated with law enforcement and intelligence agencies “to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives.”
“We shall do our utmost in defense of our democratic institutions and processes which the President represents,” said Año, who served as the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the previous administration of the Vice President’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, he enjoined the public to remain calm as he assured them that the security sector will ensure the safety of Marcos, uphold the Constitution, democratic institutions, and the chain of command at all times.
“We underscore that the safety of the President is a non-partisan issue, and we stand united in our commitment to upholding the integrity of the office and the democratic institutions that govern our great nation,” Año concluded.
In a press conference, Duterte had accused House Speaker Martin Romualdez of trying to kill her. Lawmakers from the Lower Chamber are investigating the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education's (DepEd) alleged misuse of funds when Duterte was heading them.
Duterte then claimed that she already contracted an assassin to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez if ever she gets killed.
Malacañang described Duterte's remarks as "active threats", which necessitate an "immediate proper action" from the Presidential Security Command. But Duterte later insisted that her assassination remarks were not a threat.