Marcos Reaction Video to Sara Duterte's 'Kill' Remark Presented in Impeachment Trial

During the impeachment trial of the Philippine President, a video of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. reacting to alleged remarks by Vice President Sara Duterte about contracting an assassin was presented as evidence by the prosecution. On the second day of the impeachment trial, Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the prosecutors, asked witness National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior agent John Mark Calilung to enumerate the government agencies that reacted to Duterte's virtual media conference where she allegedly made threats to the lives of President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Calilung stated that these agencies include the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Security Council (NSC), and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). He confirmed that he personally authenticated the reaction video of Marcos posted on the official website of the PCO. "I have taken a screenshot of the statement of the President on the official webpage of the Presidential Communications Office and I also have a video recording which I authenticated wherein the President made such a statement," Calilung said. He also provided a flash drive containing the video statement of Marcos, which was subsequently played during the trial. In the video, posted in November 2024, Marcos vowed to block "criminal attempts" amid Duterte's remark that she would have him, his wife, and Romualdez killed if the vice president herself were assassinated. "Kung gan'un na lang kadali ang pagplano sa pagpatay ng isang Presidente, papaano pa kaya ang mga pangkaraniwan na mamamayan?" the President said, which translates to "If it's that easy to plan the assassination of a President, what more about ordinary citizens?" He added, "'Yang ganiyang krimimal na pagtatangka ay hindi dapat pinapalampas. 'Yan ay aking papalagan," meaning "Such a criminal attempt should not be overlooked. I will not let that slide." While Marcos did not mention Duterte by name, his statement was clearly directed at her. Calilung is the first witness presented by the prosecution panel during the trial. He is testifying on an impeachment article detailing alleged grave threats and assassination plots against the President and members of his family. The defense team, however, has stated that Duterte was merely exercising her freedom of expression in relation to the threat supposedly made by the Vice President in a virtual press conference in November 2024.