SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Philippine Department of Justice declared Vice President Sara Duterte as the mastermind behind an assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday (11/25).

The department has given her five days to respond to the court summons.

Sara was asked to clarify statements she made during a press conference on Saturday (11/23), where she admitted to instructing someone to kill Marcos, his wife, and the Head of the Philippine House of Representatives if she were assassinated.

“The government is taking steps to protect the lawfully elected president,” said Philippine Deputy Justice Secretary Jesse Andres during a press briefing.

“The mastermind behind the planned assassination of the president will now face legal consequences,” he added, as reported by Reuters.

Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. vowed to counter what he described as “reckless and disturbing” threats against him.

In a public video address, Marcos emphasized that “such criminal plots must not be ignored,” though he did not mention Sara Duterte by name.

“Criminal attempts like this cannot be overlooked. As a democratic nation, we must uphold the rule of law,” said Marcos.

On Saturday (11/23), Sara Duterte openly made assassination threats against Bongbong Marcos during an online press conference.

“I said, ‘Don’t stop until you kill them,’ and he agreed,” she said.

Sara Duterte was Marcos’ running mate in the 2022 presidential election and was widely credited as a key factor in his landslide victory.