Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered a thorough investigation into the assassination threat made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Marcos.
In a statement, Marbil said he already directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to look into the matter, saying the PNP treats any threat to the safety and security of the President and all public officials with the utmost seriousness.
“In light of Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent statement, which directly referenced an assassin contracted to target the President, the PNP recognizes the grave nature of this matter,” said Marbil.
“The safety of the President is a national concern and any direct or indirect threat to his life must be addressed with the highest level of urgency,” he added.
Marbil was reacting to the statement issued by Duterte who was angered by how her Chief of Staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, is being treated by the House of Representatives.
Lopez was earlier ordered detained after she was cited in contempt over a letter signed which asked the Commission on Audit not to forward documents relating to the audit report on the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during the time of Duterte.
In a media briefing, Duterte was quoted saying that she contracted an assassin to take down Marcos, his wife Liza and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything bad happens to her.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has already referred the threat to the Presidential Security Command.
On the part of the PNP, Marbil assured the public that “the PNP will work diligently to ensure the safety of all concerned and will take the necessary legal actions in accordance with the law.”
“The PNP remains committed to upholding public safety and maintaining peace across the nation,” said Marbil.