Vice President Sara Duterte attends the budget deliberation for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) at the Senate on August 20, 2024. Angie de Silva, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte said Monday that her alleged assassination remark against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "maliciously taken out of logical context." 

In an open letter, Duterte questioned the National Security Council's pronouncement that all threats against the President "shall be validated and considered a matter of national security."

"I would like to see a copy of the notice of the meeting with proof of service, the list of attendees, photos of the meeting, and the notarized minutes of the meeting where the Council, whether present or past, resolved to consider the remarks by a Vice President against a President, maliciously taken out of logical context, as a national security concern," Duterte said in a statement.

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She added that national security "pertains to the protection of our sovereignty, the safety of the Filipino population, and the preservation of our democratic institutions." She said the NSC's function should be confined to the formulation of policies related to this. 

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.

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“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.

(I have talked to someone. I told him that if I am killed, he should kill [Marcos Jr.], Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke. I already left instructions]

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

(If I am killed, I said, don't stop until you have killed them, and then he said 'yes'.)

Duterte has said that her remarks were not a threat, but a statement of concern for her safety. Her supporters dismissed this as a hyperbole.

DUTERTE DEMANDS EXPLANATION

In her open letter, Duterte asked the NSC to tackle in its next meeting "the threats to the Vice President, the OVP (Office of the Vice President) institution and its personnel."

She added that she did not recall receiving a single notice of meeting since June 30, 2022, or since she assumed the vice presidency, despite being a council member.

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"I request the NSA to please send me the notarized minutes of all meetings conducted by the Council from 30 June 2022, if any. I want to review what the council has accomplished so far, in terms of policies and recommendations for national security," she said.

"Moreover, please submit within 24 hours, an explanation in writing with legal basis why the VP is not a member of the NSC or why as member I have not been invited to the meetings, whichever is applicable."

She also urged the public "to demand transparency and accountability from the personnel of NSC." 

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