DESIGNATED ASSASSIN
A lawmaker yesterday said he wants an immediate and thorough investigation into the identity and affiliation of the assassin commissioned by Vice President Sara Duterte to target President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
“The Vice President’s statement is deeply alarming and raises serious national security concerns,” said Bukidnon Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, a lawyer by profession.
“We must ascertain who this ‘mystery assassin’ is. Is this individual part of the Vice President’s trusted security detail, a member of the notorious syndicate, or a hired gun? The fact that Vice President Duterte claims to have personally communicated with this person, who allegedly agreed to her directive, indicates a close and trusted relationship,” he said.
Flores stressed the urgency of the situation, urging the Presidential Security Command (PSC), as directed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the identity of this individual before it’s too late.
“With the Vice President’s own admission, which she stressed ‘is no joke,’ and the fact that she is the primary beneficiary should the president be killed, VP Sara must be considered a person of interest,” he added.
The congressman also called for a review of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), which was allegedly established just days before former President Rodrigo Duterte left office. “It’s imperative that President Marcos reassess this setup. Perhaps it’s time to disband VPSPG altogether and just have PSC manage the security of both the President and Vice President under a single apparatus. Entrusting Vice President Duterte with her own ‘private army’ is concerning, especially given her recent statements,” he said.
Flores called on all relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive probe into these serious allegations to ensure the safety and security of the nation’s leadership and uphold the rule of law.
