MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday hit back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s kill threat over the weekend, saying that such “a criminal attempt” should not be condoned.

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.

VP Sara Duterte says remark vs Marcos 'maliciously taken out of logical context'

“Nakakabahala ang mga pahayag na narinig natin nitong mga nakaraang araw. Nandiyan ang walang pakundangang pagmumura at ang pagbabanta ng planong ipapatay ang ilan sa atin,” Marcos Jr. said.

“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?” he continued.

“Yan ay aking papalagan.”

The Philippine leader also hit at supposed attempts to prevent duly-elected officials of the government from seeking the truth, noting that the rule of law must be upheld in a democratic country.

“Ako, bilang pinuno ng executive department, at lahat ng mga nanunungkulan sa pamahalaan, ay may sinumpaang tungkulin na tutupdin at pangangalagaan ang Konstitusyon at ating mga batas,” Marcos Jr said. “Kaya hindi tama ang pagpigil ng mga halal ng bayan sa paghahanap ng katotohanan.”

“Ang katotohanan ay hindi dapat i-tokhang.”

A House panel is investigating the confidential fund use of Duterte’s office.

Her outburst against Marcos came after the panel cited her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez in contempt and ordered her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women.

Marcos said the matter should have been resolved long ago had the Vice President acted on her sworn duty as a public servant to reveal the truth and not divert the issue.

“Imbes na derechahang sagot, nililihis pa sa kwentong chicheria,” he said.

VP Sara Duterte finally takes truth oath in House panel inquiry into confidential funds

As head of the Executive branch and longtime former legislator, the President said he respects the mandate of Congress as an independent branch of government.

“Labindalawang taon din ako nanungkulan sa magkaparehong kamara ng Kongreso. Batid ko ang kapangyarihan iginawad sa kanila ng taumbayan at ng ating Konstitusyon. Dahil dito, iginagalang ko ang kanilang gawain bilang isang independenteng sangay ng ating Republika,” he said.

Marcos called on officials to respect the law as he warned that he would not let any attempt to let the country be brought down by dirty politics.

“Sa kabila ng mga pambabatikos, nakatuon ang aking pansin sa pamamahala. Ngunit hindi natin iko-kompromiso ang Rule of Law. Kailangan manaig ang batas sa anumang sitwasyon, sinuman ang tamaan. Kaya hindi ko hahayaang magtagumpay ang hangarin ng iba na hatakin ang buong bansa sa burak ng pulitika,” he said.

“Igalang natin ang proseso. Tuparin natin ang batas. Alalahanin natin ang mandato na pinagkatiwala sa atin ng milyong-milyon na Pilipino.”