MANILA - (2nd UPDATE) Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday mentioned the assassination of former senator and democracy icon Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. when asked to react to the statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Oo. Di ba, pumalag nga yung buong bayan nung pinatay ng pamilya nila si Benigno Aquino Junior," Duterte said to reporters on the sidelines of a House panel's hearing on the budget of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, when she was Secretary

The President said in a statement aired before the interview that he would hit back on criminal attempts to his life.

"Yang ganyang kriminal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. Kung ganun na lang kadali ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang Presidente, papaano pa kaya ang mgapangkaraniwan na mamamayan?" Marcos Jr. said. "Yan ay aking papalagan," he added.

The Vice President did not elaborate nor say if she has proof to back this allegation.

Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport in 1983 when he arrived from exile in the United States. 

His death was among key events that led to the EDSA People Power Revolution, which ousted the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 

Aquino was a known opponent of the administration of Marcos Sr. His wife, Corazon Aquino, eventually became the 11th President of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Duterte said she has not read the whole statement of Marcos.

"Pag nabasa ko na, maghahanda kami ng sagot. Kasi hindi ko rin palalampasin yung ginagawa nila sa akin," she said.

When asked about the National Bureau of Investigation issuing a subpoena against her, she said she will "gladly answer" the questions they want answers to.

"Pero dapat sumagot din sila sa mga tanong ko sa kanila. Mag-usap nalang kami doon kung andun na yung subpoena," she explained.

The Vice President said she is ready to face any possible cases against her.

"If they file cases, impeachment case or whatever case, we will answer that in the proper venue. Kung meron man silang mahanap na mali doon. But apparently nakikita niyo kanina nauubos mga tanong nila. Hindi sila makapag contempt kay Edward [Fajarda]. Kasi nagsasabi ng totoo yung tao," she said.