The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines has recommended filing criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte following allegations that she threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated, Al Jazeera reports.
In response to the NBI’s decision, Duterte stated that it was “as expected.”
Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been at the center of tensions with President Marcos since their joint victory in the 2022 national elections. Despite their collaboration, their influential families have publicly accused one another of drug abuse without presenting evidence. In June, Duterte resigned from her position as education secretary, claiming she felt “used” by Marcos.
The controversy erupted from comments made by Duterte in November, where she suggested that she had issued a directive for someone to kill Marcos, alongside his wife and cousin, if a potential plot against her should succeed. In light of these remarks, Marcos vowed to address the “troubling” threat posed by his vice president.
Duterte later described her comments as a “plan without flesh,” stressing that the main clause was her own assassination being a prerequisite for any vengeful action. She questioned whether revenge from beyond the grave could be considered a crime, implying that her statements should be interpreted as hypothetical rather than a genuine threat.
In addition to the assassination allegations, Duterte is under investigation for the alleged misappropriation of millions of dollars in government funds during her tenure as vice president and education minister. Last week, the Philippine lower house impeached her over the assassination threats and charges of violating the constitution and corruption.
Despite these developments, Duterte is contemplating a bid for the presidency in the upcoming general election in May.
