Authorities in the Philippines have issued a subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte following her public remarks about potential threats to her life. Duterte had made statements suggesting that if she were to be killed in an unspecified plot, she would have the president, his wife, and the House of Representatives speaker assassinated.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has labeled Duterte's comments as a criminal plot and has vowed to uphold the rule of law in response. The national police and military have heightened security measures for Marcos in light of the situation, with National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano deeming the threats a national security concern.
Duterte, a lawyer aged 46, clarified that her remarks were not a genuine threat but rather an expression of concern for her safety. She accused the Marcos administration of using her statements as a pretext to target critics like herself.
The subpoena requires Duterte to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation to address alleged grave threats. Duterte has expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation but has also called for the Marcos administration to address her concerns regarding government irregularities.
Under Philippine law, making public threats that could harm an individual or their family is considered a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment and fines.
Marcos and Duterte were elected as separate entities in the 2022 elections, with both campaigning on a platform of national unity. However, their relationship soured over disagreements, particularly regarding China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Duterte resigned from her positions in the Marcos Cabinet in June and has since become a vocal critic of the president, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The House of Representatives has been investigating alleged misuse of confidential government funds during Duterte's tenures as vice president and head of the Department of Education.
