VP threats unconfirmed: AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it has not yet received any confirmation on the supposed threats against Vice President Sara Duterte but assured the public that the military will still perform its duty to protect her “no matter what.”

“As of this time, wala pa po kaming (we don’t have any) confirmation on that, but I said, any statements that are given, we look into that,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

Padilla noted that the military organization has “specialized units to verify” information, including personal threats.

“We have specialized units to verify these things. So moving forward, we'll be performing our mandate accordingly of protecting her with all of our troops and assets in terms of providing security for the Vice President,” she added.

In a late-night press conference on 23 November, Duterte lamented the alleged threats against her.

Authorities have regarded the Vice President's remarks as a threat to the President and a national security concern.

The Vice President later clarified that her statement was not intended as a threat, explaining that she was merely pointing out the alleged risks to her security. She also stated that her comment had been “taken out of logical context.”