Vice Pres Duterte challenges NSC on security threats

Following Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio's assassination threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez during a press conference on Saturday, the National Security Council (NSC) has declared all such threats as matters of national security.

In an open letter released Monday, Vice President Duterte challenged the NSC's definition of national security, questioning why she was not invited to council meetings despite being a member under Executive Order 115 (1986), and requested copies of meeting minutes and photos from all meetings since June 30, 2022.

Security agencies are investigating Duterte's statement as a potential threat, while the Vice President maintains that her remarks were not intended to be threats but rather a hyperbolic expression of concern for her safety.

The Presidential Security Command (PSC) doubled Marcos' security following Duterte's assassination remarks, though there was no instruction to limit his public engagements.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is now investigating Vice President Duterte's statement.