By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Thursday reiterated that threats to the life and security of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. must always be treated with serious gravity as he is the highest official of the land.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter and ensure the safety of the President.
“Hindi po ito binabalewala dahil buhay ng Pangulo ang nakasalalay dito, hindi ito dapat gawing joke lang o isipin ng mga concerned agencies na joke lang ito, buhay po ng Pangulo ang pinag-uusapan dito,” Castro said.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testified during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday that he created a special task force within the bureau to look into the threats to the life of the President.
According to Matibag, the Vice President remains the subject of a continuing investigation because of her Nov. 23, 2024 online media conference in which she said she had hired someone to kill President Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Matibag added that the creation of the special task force through Administrative Order No. 11 issued on April 16, 2026, was prompted by Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s remarks during a rally conducted by the RAGE Coalition on April 12—where he said that they “only need one head,” referring to President Marcos Jr.’s head.
Usec. Castro said Marcos is aware of the threats made against him by the Duterte siblings.
“Noon pa naman po iyan. Sabi nga po natin, kung ano ang kinakailangang protection ng Pangulo, iyan dapat ang ibigay. Kung mas malamang pa or mas matindi pang pagpoprotekta sa Pangulo, dapat po dahil sa nakikita po at nadidinig nating pagbabanta sa kaniyang buhay,” she said.
Loyalty check?
During the impeachment trial on Wednesday, Dir. Matibag said that active uniformed personnel were among the “less than 20” persons of interest linked to the individual that Vice President Duterte had allegedly contracted to kill the President.
When asked whether there is a need for a loyalty check among members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after Matibag’s revelation, Usec. Castro maintained that President Marcos Jr.’s trust and confidence in the military remain intact.
“Sa ngayon po kasi ay alam ng Pangulo kung sino ang mga kailangang mapagkatiwalaan. Hindi po ngayon nagkakaroon ng loyalty check. Nasa security na po iyan at nasa pamumuno na po iyan ng kasundaluhan,” Castro said.
Castro, however, acknowledged that authorities should identify any member of the military who chooses to violate their nonpartisan policy and be involved in alleged plots against the President.
“Kung mayroon mang mga magiging tiwalag sa kanilang mandato, dapat malaman kung sino ang mga ito para rin sa proteksyon ng Pangulo… Iyong mga balak na tumiwalag para proteksiyonan, ipaglaban ang interes ng isang tao laban sa batas, laban sa Konstitusyon, dapat pong malaman kung sino-sino,” she said.
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