Malacañang on Monday dismissed as “baseless” Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that she had received information as early as 2024 about an alleged plan by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. against her.
In a social media post, Duterte said the alleged plans included securing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and carrying out an attack against her.
Duterte added she had relayed her concerns to then Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and sought protection for her children and mother.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, during a briefing at the Palace, questioned why Duterte had not publicly raised the allegations in 2024 or mentioned similar threats she purportedly received in 2023.
“Ngayon lang po ito nagsulputan (These have only surfaced now),” Castro said.
She disputed Duterte’s allegations, saying no evidence or official records had been presented to substantiate them.
The Palace response came days after a Quezon City court issued an arrest warrant against Duterte over three counts of grave threats stemming from her November 2024 remarks that she had arranged for an assassin to kill Marcos, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.
Duterte has denied that the remarks constituted a threat, but the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 found probable cause to hold her for trial and set bail at PHP120,000 for each count.
Duterte, who is also facing an impeachment trial before the Senate, posted PHP360,000 in bail on Sept. 5.
She subsequently raised concerns about her safety, saying she had documented threats and harassment against her since 2023 and feared for her children.
Castro said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag had indicated that their agencies had no records of threats against Duterte.
“Pinapasinungalingan po natin ang pagbibintang na ito ng Bise Presidente, wala po itong anumang ebidensiya at walang anumang records na maipapakita ito (We deny this accusation by the Vice President; there is no evidence or records that can be presented to support it),” Castro said.
Castro also rejected the suggestion that the Marcos administration does not protect children, citing government programs for child protection, student security, and mental health support. (PNA)