Manila, 24 Nov. 2024 (PNA)

The Presidential Security Command (PSC) has tightened its security after Vice President Sara Duterte’s 'death threat' against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

In a statement, the PSC said it has 'heightened and strengthened its security protocols'. following the directive issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The PSC said it is also in close coordination with law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of the First Couple, as well as their sons, Senior House Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro, Joseph Simon and William Vincent.

'We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the President and the First Family', it said.

In an online press briefing on early Saturday morning, Duterte said she had already hired a hitman to kill Marcos, the First Lady, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she is assassinated first.

Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil already directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to look into Duterte’s alleged kill order.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., said in a separate statement that the military is 'loyal to the Constitution and the Chain of Command'.

Brawner stressed the need to 'stand together against those who will try to break our bonds as Filipinos'.

Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Chief, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, said Sunday, ' The threat on the lives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, will be dealt with the highest level of urgency,

In a radio interview, Torre said they are coordinating with the Presidential Security Command (PSC) as they began investigating Vice President Sara Duterte’s threat to have the First Couple killed, in case she is assassinated.

“The safety of the President is a national concern and any threat direct or indirect especially to his life and his immediate family must be addressed with the highest level of urgency. Medyo top priority namin itong trabaho (It seems this is our job’s top priority),” he said.

He reiterated the earlier statement of the PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil that the police force would treat any threat to the safety and security of the president and all public officials with utmost seriousness.

He said he thought of going to the President and the First Lady first to get their statements but decided to coordinate with the PSC instead.

“I would like to strategize muna (first) on how to proceed with this, whether I’ll go directly to the President, the First Lady, or I’ll just go to their security officers pero (but) most probably I’ll coordinate first with the PSC,” he said.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s 'active threat' on the lives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is 'taken seriously', Malacañang said on Saturday.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has referred Duterte’s alleged ]kill order' against the First Couple to the Presidential Security Command to take the appropriate action, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

'Any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms', the PCO said.

'Acting on the Vice President’s clear and unequivocal statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill the President if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action'.

In an online press briefing early Saturday, Duterte said he had already tapped an assassin to kill Marcos and the First Lady if she is assassinated first.

Duterte said her directive to the alleged hitman she had contracted to kill the First Couple and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez is 'no joke'.