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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 282 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES NOVEMBER 24, 2024
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez
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VP SARA HIRES ASSASSIN TO KILL PBBM, FIRST LADY, SPEAKER
SPEAKER URGES ASEAN TO BACK PH ON WPS ISSUE NEWS | A2
CONTRACT TO BE EXECUTED IF SHE IS HERSELF ASSASSINATED
MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE ANNIVERSARY MARKED ANGRY SARA.
An angry Vice President Sara Duterte holds an online press conference early yesterday morning, declaring she has contracted an assassin to kill the President, the First Lady, and the House Speaker if she is assassinated. Inset shows her chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, being brought to a hospital for check-up. Grab from Brigada News FM Manila/ Screen grab from GMA News
NEWS | A2
AFP TO ‘REMAIN NON-PARTISAN’ AMID ‘GREATER CHALLENGES’
By Charles Dantes, Rachelle Tonelada, Vince Lopez, Joel Zurbano, and Maricel Cruz
V
ice President Sara Duterte disclosed in an early morning interview yesterday that she had contracted an assassin to kill the President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself would be assassinated. “Don’t worry about my security because I already talked to someone. I told them, if I’m killed, kill BBM (Marcos), Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke,” Duterte responded in a mix of English and Filipino to a Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS) vlogger’s question during a Zoom press conference. “I already had it arranged, ma’am. If I die, don’t stop until you kill them. And then he said yes,” she added without identifying the supposed assassin. Duterte’s office called for the press briefing past midnight on Saturday, following the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s order to transfer her chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, from the lower chamber’s detention facility to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong. In response to the Vice President’s threat, the Presidential Se-
AFP chief Gen. Romeo S. Brawner
By Rex Espiritu
curity Command (PSC) said it has heightened its security protocols for the President and First Lady, saying it regarded Duterte’s public statements against the first couple as a significant national security concern. “Any threat to the life of the President and the First Family, regardless of its origin—and especially one made so brazenly in public— is treated with the utmost seriousness,” PSC said in its statement. The PSC stated it is in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies to “detect, deter, and defend” threats against the country’s highest officeholders. “We consider this a matter of national security and shall take all necessary measures to ensure the President’s safety,” the statement added. Philippine National Police (PNP) General Rommel Francisco Marbil, on the other hand, or-
dered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to probe the threat made by the Vice President. “In light of Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent statement, which directly referenced an assassin contracted to target the President, the PNP recognizes the grave nature of this matter,” the PNP chief said. “The Philippine National Police (PNP) treats any threat to the safety and security of the President and all public officials with the utmost seriousness,” Marbil added. Earlier, Malacañang stressed that any threats against the President should be taken seriously, citing the gravity of Duterte’s public remarks. Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero expressed deep concern over the Vice President’s statements. “I urge those who are close to her
-- those who truly care about her as a person and as a leader -- to advise her to refrain from making these indecorous and possibly criminal statements in public,” he said. “If she is struggling, I sincerely hope she seeks and is provided with the help she may need so she can regain calm and composure, and properly discharge her duties as vice president,” Escudero said in a statement. A House leader also called for heightened security measures to protect the President and First Lady, and Speaker Romualdez. House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong described Duterte’s statements as reckless and destabilizing, and emphasized that such statements should not be dismissed and should not be taken lightly with a grain of salt, as he emphasized the need to safeguard the country’s top leaders against any potential harm.
ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. on Saturday issued a statement committing to military professionalism and national unity amid “greater challenges.’ “The (AFP) is a professional organization focused on its mandate to protect the people and the state. Our personnel are loyal to the Constitution and the Chain of Command,” Brawner said. The military officer emphasized the importance of maintaining a non-partisan stance during this time. “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 said. “We call for calm and resolve, and for everyone to hold on to our values of respect and nationalism that will guide us in these trying times. We reiterate our need to stand together against those who will try to break our bonds as Filipinos,” he added. Although he did not expound on the aforementioned challenges, his statement follows Vice President Sara Duterte’s early Saturday morning press conference.
OVP CHIEF OF STAFF IN HOSPITAL; TO RESIGN AFTER PROBE, SAYS SARA By Rachelle Tonelada VICE President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, has been transferred back to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center following a House order. The order was read yesterday by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief PBGen. Nicolas Torre III in the presence of Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City Lopez hugged the vice president
while the transfer order was being read. Duterte accompanied Lopez in the vehicle but declined to comment on the development. Meanwhile, the Vice President said that Lopez had expressed her desire to resign and she had accepted it. “She said ‘I want to go home to my mother once this is finished. I will resign. And I will go home to my mother, I just want to be with my mother,” Duterte added. Lopez was initially detained at the
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House of Representatives after being cited in contempt and was taken to the VMMC before her transfer to St. Luke’s. She was brought there past 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, after the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability ordered her transfer to the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluyong City. According to House sergeant-at-arms retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas, a Philippine National Police (PNP) doctor who accompanied Lopez to VMMC
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reported that medical tests on her revealed no alarming findings, with all results coming back “normal” and she is in “good shape.” Duterte had earlier accused the House investigation into her confidential funds as “political harassment.” “You are destroying the names of my colleagues in the Office of the Vice President. You say that these are stolen, that they are confidential funds. You don’t even have proof they are confidential funds,” she said.
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A House leader on Saturday urged the public not to be misled by Vice President Sara Duterte’s inflammatory remarks, describing them as a deliberate diversion from allegations of her misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds. “Let’s not be fooled. The real issue here is the P612.5 million confidential funds that the Vice President needs to explain to the public. We should not resort to diversionary tactics like this,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said.
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