MANILA — The House of Representatives has beefed up its security after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed to have contacted an assassin to kill Speaker Martin Romualdez if a supposed plot to kill her succeeded, an official said Monday. 

Over the weekend, Duterte accused various government officials of corruption and claimed Speaker Martin Romualdez wanted her dead. She said she had arranged for Marcos, Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to be killed if that happened.

The Philippine National Police has augmented the security in and around the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said. 

“Nag-double security kami,” Velasco told reporters. 

“Ang nag-augment sa amin ‘yong PNP, kasi hindi naman kami makaka-hire ng additional.  So, kapag kami additional security requirements, we always ask the PNP to beef up our security,” he added.

Asked whether the close-in security of Romualdez was also increased, Velasco said, “Hindi naman. Same pa rin.”

Duterte on Saturday said, “May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kaniya na kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. Nagbilin na ako,” she said.

“‘Pag namatay ako, sabi ko, 'wag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapatay sila and then he said 'yes',” she added.

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