President Marcos vows to fight back against threats

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday vowed to resist a “disturbing” plot of Vice President Sara Duterte to have him assassinated, chiding his political ally-turned-arch critic for resorting to “kwentong chicheria” or silly talk just to evade questions about her alleged misuse of confidential funds.

In his strongest statement yet on Duterte, Marcos said the issue would not have reached dramatic proportions had Duterte answered the “legitimate” questions raised in the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding her use of confidential funds.

In a video statement, Marcos said criminal plots should not be condoned, as he cited the need for every Filipino to uphold the rule of law.

“The statements we heard in the past days are disturbing. There were indiscriminate profanities and threats to have some of us killed. If it’s that easy to plot the killing of a President, how much more the ordinary citizens?” the Chief Executive said. “That criminal plot should not be tolerated. I will resist it.”

While he did not mention Duterte in his nearly three-minute recorded statement, Marcos made references to some of the controversies tied to her family.

“Ang katotohanan ay hindi dapat i-tokhang (The truth should not be eliminated),” Marcos said, using a term that has become synonymous with the killing of drug suspects in the previous administration’s controversial war on drugs that had left more than 6,000 killed, based on official data.

“Imbes na deretsahang sagot, nililihis pa sa kwentong chicheria (Instead of giving a direct answer, they mislead by spinning silly tales),” Marcos said, apparently taunting Duterte for using the name of popular snack brands as fictitious signatories to receipts submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to state auditors.

“I want this issue to end through a peaceful way that will lead us to the truth,” he added.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives unanimously passed yesterday Resolution No. 2092, expressing its “unwavering and unqualified support and solidarity” for the Marcos administration and for Speaker Martin Romualdez “in the face of serious and dangerous remarks and defiant acts that threaten the very foundation of democratic governance, rule of law and public trust and integrity of the government institutions.”

Lawmakers have been scrutinizing the OVP’s use of confidential funds, an issue that triggered the rift between Duterte and the Marcos administration, which eventually led to her midyear resignation from the Cabinet as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

A series of tense verbal exchanges between the Duterte and Marcos camps then ensued, the latest of which was the Vice President’s remark that she had asked an assassin to kill the President, First Lady Liza Marcos and Romualdez if an alleged plot to kill her succeeds.

Duterte, a former DepEd chief and vice chair of the government’s anti-insurgency task force, held a late night virtual press conference last Saturday, during which she talked about contracting an assassin.

This was hours after the House of Representatives ordered the transfer of her detained chief of staff Zuleika Lopez to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.

The House ordered Lopez’s detention after she was cited in contempt for her alleged interference in a probe on the confidential funds of offices led by Duterte.

Duterte, who was Marcos’ running mate in the 2022 elections, described the House order to transfer Lopez to the corrections facility as an “attempted homicide” and accused the chamber of pressuring her chief of staff into telling incriminating lies.

Marcos said all government workers have the duty to comply with the Constitution and other laws so they should not prevent elected officials from searching for the truth.

Citing his 12 years as a member of the two chambers of Congress, Marcos said he knows the authority given to the legislature by the electorate and by the Constitution.

“Because of this, I respect their activities as an independent branch of our republic,” he said.

“Tapos na sana ang usapang ito kung tutuparin lamang ang sinumpaang  panata na bilang lingkod bayan ay magsabi ng totoo, at hindi hahadlangan (This issue would have been settled if the public servant’s vow to tell the truth had been fulfilled and not hindered),” he said.

He vowed to remain focused on governance despite the criticisms hurled at him, but stressed that he would not allow the rule of law to be compromised.

“The law needs to prevail in any situation, regardless of who will be affected. Let us respect the process. Let us follow the law. Let us remember the mandate given to us by millions of Filipinos,” he said.

“Let us work for the progress of the Republic of the Philippines and to achieve a new Philippines.”

In HR 2092, the lawmakers lauded Marcos for his “vision for a strong and united Philippines.”

“It is our duty as legislators to rally behind our President in defending the interests of the Filipino people and safeguarding the future of our democratic institutions,” according to HR 2092, principally authored by Senior Deputy Speaker Rep. Aurelio Gonzales of Pampanga.

Through the resolution, the lawmakers said Romualdez’s “swift and decisive response” to a serious threat from Duterte “is a testament to his commitment to upholding the principles of democratic governance and the rule of law.”

“We have passed crucial legislations that support the priorities of the administration and address the needs of our constituents. These successes show that, with a stalwart like Speaker Romualdez, this institution can withstand any obstacle and remain a pillar of democracy,” the resolution stated.

VP: Kill statement taken out of context

Facing an investigation for her “kill” Marcos pronouncement, Duterte said she was “maliciously taken out of logical context” by the National Security Council (NSC).

Suggesting that her incendiary remarks over the weekend were hardly a concern for national security, Duterte challenged the NSC to provide a copy of the documents relevant to the meeting where the body resolved to take her remarks as a national security concern.

“National security pertains to the protection of our sovereignty, the safety of the Filipino population and the preservation of our democratic institutions. The function of the National Security Council is confined to the formulation of policies in furtherance of such pursuits,” Duterte said.

“I would like to see a copy of the notice of meeting with proof of service, the list of attendees, photos of the meeting and the notarized minutes of 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,” she added.

The Vice President also questioned why the council had never invited her to their meetings since she assumed office in 2022 despite being a member of the NSC as stated under Executive Order 115 of 1986.

She said she wants the council to allow her to present the threats made against her, her office and her officials and employees.

“I request the NSA to please send to 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 added.

Duterte also urged the public to demand transparency and accountability from the NSC.

As law enforcement agencies, lawmakers, legal experts and pundits started pushing to hold her criminally accountable for the threats, Duterte insisted that her remarks were “not actionable.”

Stressing that the country has bigger problems than the OVP, Duterte said her political opponents were using her to mask their “corruption and anomalies in the government.”

“You have nothing left to scrutinize about me. You’re just covering up the government’s shortcomings. You’re making me your punching bag so that people do not notice, see, hear the nonsense, the corruption and the anomalies that are being done in the government,” she said.

Duterte also renewed her challenge to top government officials, including President Marcos and members of Congress, to undergo drug tests.

The Vice President said she is aware that she is being labeled as crazy and unhinged, hence she is willing to take psychological, neuropsychiatric and drug tests if the President also agrees to undergo the same.

“Let’s all take a drug test in front of the people. My fellow citizens, we will give you the promises we made to you when we were campaigning, and we will show you that we are sober. We will all be drug tested. Let’s start with the Office of the Vice President,” she added. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Jose Rodel Clapano