House ‘doubles’ security after VP Sara Duterte’s claim of tapping hitman for Romualdez
The House of Representatives has beefed up its security after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed to have contacted an assassin to kill Speaker Martin Romualdez if a supposed plot to kill her succeeded, an official said Monday.
Over the weekend, Duterte accused various government officials of corruption and claimed Speaker Martin Romualdez wanted her dead. She said she had arranged for Marcos, Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to be killed if that happened.
The Philippine National Police has augmented the security in and around the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said.
“We have doubled security,” Velasco told reporters.
“The PNP has increased our security because we cannot hire additional ones. So, when we have additional security requirements, we always ask the PNP to beef up our security,” he added.
Asked whether Romualdez’s close-in security was also increased, Velasco said, “No. It’s still the same.”
Duterte on Saturday said, “I spoke to someone. I told him that when I was killed, you should kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke. I gave the order,” she said.
“‘When I die, I said, don’t stop until you kill them and then he said ‘yes’,” she added.
Duterte’s outburst against the Marcos family was prompted by a House panel's decision to transfer her House-detained Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez to a correctional facility in Mandaluyong. The order came after the Vice President stayed overnight within the House premises after visiting Lopez on Thursday.
The House panel is investigating the confidential fund use of Duterte’s office. Duterte has denied allegations of corruption and fund misuse, saying that the House investigation was part of political persecution.
