Vice President Sara Duterte attends the HOR Committee hearing on Good Governance and Public Accountability at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, tackling the P612.5 million confidential fund expenses of the OVP and the DepEd under the helm of VP Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte decried on Wednesday the supposed "oppression" by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration as she raised concerns over her own safety and the possibility of the government using terrorism-related charges against her.

She also stressed that her remarks about arranging to have Marcos Jr. killed in case she herself is killed were "taken out of logical context" intentionally.

In her press briefing, Duterte stood firm that there is no active threat against Marcos as long as she is alive. She said her statements over the weekend were just for her safety.

"Sabi nila, pinalaki at pinalakas 'yung security ng First Family, ng President dahil may threat. So ako napaisip ako. Nilalakasan n'yo 'yung security niya, ibig sabihin ba papatayin na ako? Why for will you double the security?" Duterte said.

(They say they have strengthened and increased the security for the First Family and the President because there is a threat. So it got me thinking: They increased his security, so does that mean they will kill me?)

In the past days, House leaders and various government officials  have expressed concern over Duterte's statement that she had arranged a supposed kill plot against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez as a precaution if she will be killed first.

The revelation prompted the Presidential Security Command to heighten the security for the chief of state's future activities.

'TEVES PLAYBOOK'

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday issued a subpoena to Duterte regarding the alleged kill plot. The agency said they will give her due process as they have many questions prepared for the vice president.

Duterte said the subpoena mentioned grave assault and possible violations under the Anti-Terrorism Act based on her remarks.

"On face value, [the complaint] do not hold water," Duterte said, adding she believes the government wants to use the Anti-Terrorism Act — passed during her father's presidency despite concerns that it could be abused — to go after her properties and assets.

She then likened her situation to what expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves, Jr. — wanted for the 2023 murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo — experienced, saying the administration has a "playbook" for using Anti-Terrorism Act.

READ: Expelled congressman Teves arrested in Timor-Leste

Teves is in Timor-Leste and is the subject of an extradition request from the Philippine government. 

"Ano ba 'yung gusto nilang gawin kaya sila nagcha-charge ng Anti-Terror Law? Gusto nila mag-cancel ng passport, gusto nila mag-red notice sa international so hindi ka makakagalaw overseas. Gusto nila mag-AMLA, Anti-Money Laundering Act," the Vice President said.

(What do they want when they charge under the Anti-Terror Law? They want the passport cancelled, they want a red notice from [Interpol] so you can't move about overseas. They want to use the Anti-Money Laundering Act)

She claimed but gave no evidence that that was what happened to Teves and claimed further that authorities planted evidence in raided properties.

"Pagkatapos papasok ang search team. Pagpasok, syempre nandoon na 'yung mga hinahanap kuno sila," she said.

(And then when the search team comes in, of course, they will what find what they say they were looking for)

'NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT'

She said that government using the Anti-Terror Law against perceived enemies is "not without precedent".

Petitioners against the Anti-Terrorism Act had warned before and after the law was passed that it was prone to abuse and could be used against government critics and dissenters. 

They had also warned about the government "weaponizing" the law against critics, including human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society.

Supporters of the bill, including then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, said it would "better protect the lives of the Filipino people from an enemy that does not have any regard for life, that only has death and destruction on their minds."

RELATED: How ‘red-tagging’ became front and center, as SC oral arguments on Anti-Terrorism Act draw to a close

Duterte said the possible offenses she may face are "clearly oppression and harassment".

She also told media that she requested to reschedule her attendance at NBI's headquarters to prioritize the hearing at House of Representatives, where her staffs at Office of the Vice President (OVP) are being questioned.

READ: Another OVP official confined after 'falling ill' during House probe

READ: House panel grants furlough to 4 OVP-linked individuals tagged in confidential funds

"'Yun din talaga ang promise ko sa kanila —  na sasamahan ko 'yung employees ng OVP na pinapatawag sa mga hearings," she said.

(That is also my promise to them, that I would be with the OVP employees summoned to the hearings)

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