Philippines Vice President Threatens to Assassinate Pres. Marcos

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Above: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte speaks during the kick-off rally for the New Philippines movement at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on January 28, 2024. Image copyright: Ezra Acayan/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Filipino Vice Pres. Sara Duterte publicly announced on Saturday that, should she ever be killed, she had contracted an assassin to kill Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

  • At a press conference, Duterte said she had "talked with somebody," whom she told, "'If I’m killed, you’ll kill [Marcos], Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez," adding: "No joke, no joke."

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The Spin

Narrative A

Sara Duterte’s assassination threat reflects a troubling pattern of defiance and disregard for the rule of law. From refusing accountability in government inquiries to mishandling public funds, her actions undermine transparency, destabilize governance, and erode trust in democratic leadership. Her history of misconduct raises serious concerns about her future in public service.

Narrative B

While the previous Duterte regime has been rightfully criticized, the Marcos family's reclaimed power, fueled by historical revisionism, should not be seen as a path toward democracy and freedom. By whitewashing martial law and exploiting nostalgia, they erode democratic values, potentially leaving the nation more vulnerable to repression than before.

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