ALBAWABA - In a startling public declaration on Saturday, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte disclosed that, should she be assassinated, she had contracted with a hitman to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and the Speaker of the House. Duterte made it clear that her threat was real and not to be taken lightly.
Lucas Bersamin, the president's executive secretary, acted quickly in response to the audacious statement, sending the "credible threat" to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) for rapid action. Although it is yet unknown what would be done against Duterte, the administration is currently assessing what steps are appropriate to resolve the problem, according to the Associated Press.
This sharp increase draws attention to the Philippines' widening political rift. Duterte said in a government statement that he had a deal with an assassin to kill the president in retaliation if she died.
For months, tensions between Duterte and Marcos have been building. Duterte gained notoriety in October for his scathing criticism of Marcos and charges that he was unsuited to lead. The statement, "He doesn’t know how to be a president," was one of her most forceful public criticisms of her erstwhile election buddy.
The continuous division is a reflection of the nation's growing political polarization, as Duterte's followers struggle with the president's base as concerns about stability and governance grow.
