Malacañang is leaving the investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s. alleged threat to have President Marcos assassinated to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), saying it knows its mandate.

The Palace agrees that the threats against the President are serious.

This came after the NBI earlier said that the assassination threat was neither a metaphor nor a hyperbole.

"Unang-una po, totoo pong seryoso ang pagkakaroon ng isang tao, pagkakaroon ng isang public servant lalo pa na ikaw ay occupying the second highest position  in the land, mayroon kang sariling assassin, seryoso na pong usapin, lalo pa at  gagamitin ang assassin na ito para ma-liquidate, mawala ang Pangulo ((First of all, it is indeed serious for a person, especially a public servant occupying the second highest position in the land, to have his or her own assassin. This is a very serious matter, especially if this assassin is intended to liquidate or eliminate the President)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Monday, April 27.

"Hindi lamang siya, nandiyan na rin po ang pagbabanta ni  Mayor Baste Duterte. Seryoso po ito (Not only that, there is also the threat from Mayor Baste Duterte. This is serious)," she added.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag recently revealed that they are now in the process of identifying the person tasked to carry out the assassination.

Castro said Matibag knows his mandates and thanked him if they can expedite the investigation.

"Muli  ang NBI, NBI Director. Atty. Matibag,  alam na po niya ang mandato niya. Maraming salamat kung mas mabilis na iniimbestigahan ito (Again, the NBI, NBI Director Atty. Matibag already knows his mandate. We thank them if this is being investigated more quickly)," Castro said.

In November 2024, the Vice President publicly threatened to have the President assassinated if she herself is killed.

She later backpedaled, saying there would be no benefit for her if President Marcos dies.