PSC Philippines Strengthens President Marcos' Security After Being Threatened By Vice President Sara Duterte

Philippine President Marcos Jr. (Twitter/@bongbongmarcos)

JAKARTA - The Philippine government has increased the security of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family after receiving death threats from his own Vice President, Sara Duterte.

In a local media statement, Sunday, November 24, the Philippine Presidential Security Command (PSC) emphasized that it continues to coordinate with relevant law enforcers to detect, prevent, and contain all forms of threats to the president and his family.

"Any threat to the life of the president and his family, regardless of origin -- and in particular to threats so clearly shared in public -- will be handled very seriously," the agency said, quoted from Anadolu via Antara.

"We consider this issue a national security issue and will take all necessary measures to maintain the president's security," the PSC statement said.

The increase in security was carried out following Vice President Duterte's statement at an online press conference on Friday (22/11).

At that time, he claimed to have arranged someone to kill President Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Philippine House Speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to him.

"I've spoken to someone. I told the person, 'If they kill me, kill Marcos, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez.' No kidding. I've given you a hint," said Sara Duterte.

Duterte accused Romualdez, Marcos' cousin, of wanting him dead. The Vice President suspects that the Speaker of the House of Representatives sees him as the "largest threat" to his potential candidacy in the 2028 presidential election.

"'If I am killed,' I said, 'don't stop until you kill them. He then said, 'yes'," he said.

Duterte's shaking was raised amid the strengthening of political pressure on him, including in the form of an impeachment threat in the Philippine House of Representatives.

The effort to impeach Duterte, according to reports, was initiated by Romualdez who is said to be trying to run for his place in the next election.