Will fight back: Philippine prez on VP’s murder threat

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos vowed on Monday to fight back against what he called reckless threats against him, speaking out after his estranged vice-president said he would be assassinated if she herself were killed.

In a strongly-worded video message addressing the nation, Marcos did not name Vice-President Sara Duterte, his presidential running mate, but said “such criminal plans should not be overlooked”.

In a dramatic twist in the fierce spat between Marcos and the powerful Duterte family, the daughter of firebrand former President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday she had instructed an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife and the lower house speaker, in the event that she were killed.

She was responding to a question during an online press conference about whether she feared for her safety. She did not cite any specific threat against her.