Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the National Security Commission's statement, which declared that any threat to the President's life is considered a national security concern.
In an official statement on Monday, the Vice President said her remarks about calling an "assassin" to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in the event an alleged plan against her succeeded, were "maliciously taken out of logical context."
"National security pertains to the protection of our sovereignty, the safety of the Filipino population, and the preservation of our democratic institutions. The function of the National Security Council is confined to the formulation of policies in furtherance of such pursuits," the VP said.
"I would like to see a copy of the notice of meeting with proof of service, the list of attendees, photos of the meeting, and the notarized minutes of meeting where the Council, whether present or past, resolved to consider the remarks by a Vice President against a President, maliciously taken out of logical context, as a national security concern," she added.
Duterte also asked the NSC to include in the agenda for its next meeting her request to present to the Council the threats against the Vice President, the Office of the Vice President (OVP), and its personnel.
She further questioned why the NSC had not invited her to any meetings, noting that she is a "member of the National Security Council (EO 115, Dec. 24, 1986)."
"I request the NSA to please send me the notarized minutes of all meetings conducted by the Council from 30 June 2022, if any. I want to review what the council has accomplished so far, in terms of policies and recommendations for national security," she noted.
"Moreover, please submit within 24 hours, an explanation in writing with legal basis why the VP is not a member of the NSC or why as member I have not been invited to the meetings, whichever is applicable," she furthered.
Duterte made the controversial remark early Saturday morning during a press conference at the House of Representatives. This occurred while Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff and undersecretary of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), was detained after being cited for contempt.
She specifically mentioned that she had arranged for someone to assassinate President Marcos, the First Lady, and the House Speaker in the event of her own death.
"Huwag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, 'pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. Nagbilin na ako, Ma’am. ‘Pag namatay ako, huwag ka tumigil hanggang hindi mo mapapatay sila. And then he said 'yes,'" said the Vice President.
On Sunday, NSC Adviser Eduardo Año stated that all threats against the President's life will be validated and treated as matters of national security.
"We shall be closely coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives," said Año.
The Presidential Communications Office announced on Saturday that Duterte’s remarks constituted an "active threat" to the President's life.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also referred the matter to the Presidential Security Command for "immediate and proper action."
