Malacañang has dismissed allegations by Vice President Sara Duterte claiming her safety and her children’s well-being are endangered under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
During a media briefing on Monday, September 7, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro asserted that neither the Philippine National Police (PNP) nor the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has documentation of any reported threats against the Vice President.
“Pinapasinungalingan po natin ang pagbibintang na ito ng Bise Presidente. Wala po itong anumang ebidensiya at walang anumang records na maipapakita ito,” Castro stated.
“Wala pong record, wala pong pagsusumbong, wala pong reklamo,” she added.
Castro further questioned Duterte’s claims of learning in 2024 about an alleged plot involving Marcos—including a plan to have her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as an attempt on her own life.
The Palace official observed that Duterte never brought these allegations to light when she supposedly learned of them in 2024, nor during earlier instances in 2023 when she claimed to be under threat.
“Wala rin po siyang nabanggit patungkol sa sinasabing threats way back [in] 2023. Ngayon lang po ito nagsulputan,” Castro noted.
Reiterating that both the PNP and NBI lack documentation of safety risks facing the Vice President, Castro assured the public that state security forces remain committed to safeguarding Duterte and all citizens.
“Wala pong pinanggagalingan ang anumang sinasabi ng Bise Presidente at ng kaniyang kapatid. Wala pong nakikitang anumang ebidensiya patungkol po diyan,” she emphasized.
The statements follow similar security concerns raised by her brother, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, who also voiced fears for his personal safety.
The Palace response coincided with a Quezon City court issuing an arrest warrant for the Vice President over three counts of grave threats stemming from remarks she made in November 2024.
The charges were filed after the court determined probable cause existed regarding her public statements, in which she claimed to have contracted an assassin to eliminate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her own death.
Duterte secured her provisional liberty on Saturday after posting ₱360,000 in bail, setting aside ₱120,000 per count.