President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte lead the launching of Brigada Eskwela  at the V. Mapa High School in Manila on August 14, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Several agencies from the government’s security sector expressed concern on the alleged threat of Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

Duterte, during an early morning press conference organized by her supporters on Saturday, Nov. 23, unleashed profanity-laced remarks versus Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying that she already hired someone to kill the three if she gets assassinated. 

National Security Adviser Sec. Eduardo Año said they consider all threats to the President as “serious”. 

READ: National Security Council ‘closely coordinating’ with agencies on threat vs Marcos Jr.

“Any and all threats against the life of the President shall be validated and considered a matter of national security,” Año said in a statement released on Sunday, Nov. 24. 

“We shall be closely coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives,” he added. 

He urges the public to “remain calm” and “confident” as he vowed that the security sector will ensure Marcos Jr.’s safety. 

“We underscore that the safety of the President is a non-partisan issue, and we stand united in our commitment to upholding the integrity of the office and the democratic institutions that govern our great nation,” Año concluded. 

The Philippine National Police also said it is treating any threat to the President’s safety and security and all public officials with “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,” the PNP said in a statement on Sunday, Nov. 24. 

It added that PNP Chief Francisco Marbil has directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct a “thorough and immediate investigation into this issue.” 

READ: VP Sara Duterte's alleged plot against Marcos a 'serious crime' — House leaders

For its part, the National Bureau of Investigation revealed they were directed by Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla to determine the veracity of Duterte’s remarks. 

“The NBI Cybercrime investigators have found the video clip to be authentic. Hindi po ito deepfake or AI Generated,” said NBI Director Jaime Santiago. 

Santiago added that the findings were already reported to Remulla while the investigation is underway. 

“The matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation. If the evidence warrants, this could lead to eventual prosecution,” the Justice Department said in a separate statement. 

Earlier, Duterte clarified that her statements were not threats against the President, but an emphasis of her concern for her own life. 

“They would say there's a threat to the life of the president? Bakit ko daw siya papatayin? If not for revenge from the grave?” Duterte said in an ambush interview at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on Saturday, Nov. 23. 

“There's no reason na papatayin ko siya. anong benefit nun sa akin? Patayin ko si Liza, anong benefit nun sa akin? Wala. But sana kung tigapagmana ako ng nakaw na yaman, hindi naman,” she added.

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