Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILABULLETIN)

Vice President Sara Duterte has tagged the Marcos family in the assassination of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in her retort to President Marcos' televised statement about her on Monday afternoon, Nov. 25.

In a chance interview with House of Representatives reporters, Duterte was asked to react to Marcos statement, which was as follows:

''Kung ganun na lang kadali ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang Presidente, papaano pa kaya ang mga pangkaraniwan na mamamayan?''

(If it's that easy to plan the killing of a President, how much more would it be of an ordinary citizen?)

''Yang ganyang krimimal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. 'Yan ay aking papalagan,'' Marcos said.

(These criminal attempts must not be overlooked. I will fight back.)

To this, a visibly irate Vice President said: "Di ba pumalag nga yung buong bayan nung pinatay ng pamilya nila si Benigno Aquino Jr.? Next question."

(Didn't the whole country fight back when their family had Benigno Aquino Jr. killed? Next question.)

Late senator Aquino was the political rival of President Marcos' late father, president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Aquino's assassination on Aug. 21, 1983 caused a groundswell that led to then-president Marcos' ouster three years later. But the latter's hand in the killing was never proven.

Vice President Duterte attended on Monday the seventh hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which had been looking into her alleged improper utilization of P612.5 million confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs). She gave an interview during a break in the hearing.