Vice-President Sara Duterte has since downplayed the assassination threat, but the damage has been done. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Philippine law officials on Tuesday summoned vice president Sara Duterte for questioning over her weekend statements that she had contracted someone to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if she were to be killed.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte publicly threatened the life of the country’s president on Nov. 23. Under the Philippine penal code, such public remarks may constitute a crime and is punishable by a jail term and fine.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has described a public threat by the vice president to have him killed by an assassin as a criminal plot and vowed to fight it, in a looming showdown between

Sara Duterte told reporters she had told an assassin to kill Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and the speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be killed.

Vice President Sara Duterte said she had talked to a hitman to kill her boss if she herself were to be killed, saying she was making "no joke."

Political turmoil has escalated after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed to have arranged for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s assassination if she is slain.

Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday that she has contracted an assassin to kill the president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives.