President threatened with murder – by Vice President

Sara Duterte, daughter of the tough former President Rodrigo Duterte, emphasizes that the sensational statement is not a joke.

No joke, no joke, she says at a digital press conference since her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez was arrested, accused of involvement in budget fraud.

Duterte's statements have prompted the Philippine government to order the country's elite force to take "necessary measures", but it is unclear what that means.

Marcos won the election in May 2022 big, with Duterte as vice candidate. The two went to the election under the slogan national unity, but quickly ended up on a collision course after taking office. Among other things, they are deeply divided on how the Philippines should handle China's actions around disputed areas in the South China Sea.

Sara Duterte has resigned from her assignments as Education Minister and head of an agency for counter-insurgency in the country.