The National Security Council (NSC) stated that it is taking seriously “any and all threats against the life of the President,” considering such threats a matter of national security.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año released a statement indicating that the NSC will closely coordinate with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, identify possible perpetrators, and determine their motives.
The statement was issued in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks threatening to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Lisa Marcos killed if an “alleged” assassination plot against her were to succeed.
“We shall do our utmost in defense of our democratic institutions and processes which the President represents,” Año said in the statement issued on Sunday, November 24.
He also urged Filipinos to “remain calm and confident in the knowledge that the security sector will ensure the President’s safety and will always uphold at all times the constitution, our democratic institutions, and the chain of command.”
“We underscore that the safety of the President is a non-partisan issue, and we stand united in our commitment to upholding the integrity of the office and the democratic institutions that govern our great nation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. issued a separate statement on Saturday, emphasizing that the Philippine military remains professional, “focused on its mandate to protect the people and the state,” and “loyal to the Constitution and the Chain of Command.”
“We are facing greater challenges that require the strength of a united country and armed forces. As a cornerstone of national stability, the AFP shall remain non-partisan, with utmost respect for our democratic institutions and civilian authority,” Brawner stated.
He also called for calm and resolve, urging the public to uphold values of respect and nationalism “that will guide us in these trying times,” and stressed the importance of unity against any threats to the Filipino nation.
