Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte has vehemently denied plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., despite being summoned to testify by investigators.
Duterte, in a statement following the subpoena, described her comments about ordering Marcos’s assassination as a “plan without flesh,” contingent upon her own prior death.
She made these remarks during a weekend briefing, stating the plan also included Marcos’s wife and cousin, the House Speaker, and was predicated on a successful attempt on her own life. Duterte questioned whether revenge from the grave constituted a crime, suggesting her statements stemmed from frustration with the Marcos administration, accusing it of prioritizing political persecution over serving the Filipino people.
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The Department of Justice labeled Duterte the “self-confessed mastermind” and issued a subpoena demanding her appearance at a formal inquiry. President Marcos himself vowed to address what he termed a “troubling” threat. This escalating dispute occurs ahead of May’s general elections, highlighting the fractured relationship between the once-allied Marcos and Duterte families, who have traded accusations of drug use since their electoral victory in 2022.
Duterte’s resignation as education secretary in June, citing feeling “used,” further emphasized the rift. Separate investigations continue into Duterte’s alleged misuse of government funds and the International Criminal Court’s ongoing probe into potential crimes against humanity committed by her father, Rodrigo Duterte, during his presidency. Moreover, the Philippine government continues to refuse cooperation with the ICC.
Source: Al Jazeera
