Threat against Marcos ‘maliciously taken out of context’ – VP Sara Duterte | INQToday

Summary

Vice President Sara Duterte has criticized the National Security Council (NSC) for its handling of her remarks, which were initially seen as a threat against President Marcos. Duterte demanded transparency from the council, questioning its definition of national security and challenging her exclusion from meetings. She clarified that her controversial statement about ordering assassinations was a metaphorical warning, not a literal threat. The vice president also requested access to meeting minutes and insisted that her own security concerns be addressed in the NSC's next session.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vice President SAR Duarte clarified that her earlier remarks about having someone kill President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Lisa Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez were taken out of context.
• 😀 Duarte explained that her comments were not a direct threat, but rather a 'warning' reflecting a sense of revenge should she be killed.
• 😀 On November 24, the National Security Council (NSC) considered threats against President Marcos as a serious national security concern.
• 😀 Duarte questioned the NSC's decision to label her comments as a national security issue, asking for transparency about the meeting where this resolution was made.
• 😀 She requested the NSC provide her with a list of attendees and notarized minutes from the meeting where her remarks were discussed.
• 😀 Duarte also demanded that her own concerns about threats to her life be included in the agenda for the next NSC meeting.
• 😀 The Vice President challenged the NSC's broad definition of national security, arguing that it should be focused on protecting the country's sovereignty, not on political statements.
• 😀 Duarte expressed frustration over her exclusion from NSC meetings, stating that she had not received any meeting notices since June 30, 2022, despite being a member of the council.
• 😀 She cited Executive Order 115 (1986) as evidence that she should have been invited to these meetings, which she claims was not the case.
• 😀 Duarte has formally requested access to the minutes of all NSC meetings since June 2022 to better understand the council’s activities and decisions.

Q & A

What did Vice President Sara Duterte say about the alleged murder threat against President Marcos?

Vice President Sara Duterte clarified that her remark about hiring an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Lisa Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez was taken out of context. She explained that the comment was not a direct threat but rather a figurative expression, which she referred to as 'revenge from the grave' should she be killed.

What was the National Security Council's (NSC) response to the threats against President Marcos?

The NSC issued a statement on November 24, declaring that all threats against President Marcos were considered serious and a matter of national security. This declaration came after Vice President Duterte's controversial statements.

What did Duterte request from the National Security Council following their response?

Duterte requested to see the list of attendees and the notarized minutes of the meeting where the NSC resolved to consider her remarks a national security concern. She also asked for her own concerns regarding threats to her and her office to be included in the agenda for the next NSC meeting.

Why did Vice President Duterte question the NSC's definition of national security?

Duterte argued that the NSC's definition of national security should be focused on the protection of the country's sovereignty, and not on individual threats to public officials. She emphasized that the agency's function should be limited to policy formulation related to national sovereignty.

What legal document did Vice President Duterte cite to support her membership in the NSC?

Duterte referenced Executive Order 115, issued on December 24, 1986, to highlight that she is a legal member of the NSC. She pointed out that she had not received any meeting notices from the council since she assumed office on June 30, 2022.

How did Vice President Duterte respond to the NSC's decision not to invite her to meetings?

Duterte expressed dissatisfaction with the NSC's failure to invite her to meetings, noting that she had not received a single notice of meeting since taking office. She requested the NSC to submit the notarized minutes of all meetings conducted since June 30, 2022.

What did Duterte mean by her comment regarding 'revenge from the grave'?

Duterte explained that her statement about hiring an assassin was meant as a figurative warning, not a literal threat. She referred to the idea of 'revenge from the grave' as a way to express potential retaliation if she were ever killed, amidst ongoing threats to her life.

What are the implications of Duterte's questioning of the NSC's actions?

Duterte’s questioning of the NSC’s handling of the threat and her exclusion from meetings may raise concerns about transparency and accountability within the council. It also highlights potential political tensions between her office and the Marcos administration.

What role does the National Security Council play in the Philippines?

The National Security Council (NSC) is responsible for advising the President on matters concerning national security, including policies related to protecting the country's sovereignty, public safety, and other national interests.

What was the timeline of events leading to Duterte’s statement about the assassination plot?

On November 23, 2023, Vice President Duterte publicly claimed that she had instructed someone to target Marcos, the First Lady, and House Speaker Romualdez if she were to be killed. This statement was made during a press conference. The NSC's response came the following day, November 24, when they deemed all threats against Marcos as serious national security concerns. Duterte issued her clarification about the remark on November 25.