Sara threat vs. PBBM poses risks to stability, investor confidence

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Duterte (left) and President Bongbong Marcos (right) during the 45th Philippine National Police Academy Commencement Exercises, Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda, Silang, Cavite, April 19, 2024. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged assassination threat against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. could undermine political stability and dampen investor confidence in the Philippines, a journalist warned on Friday.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Manny Mogato said disagreements between the President and Vice President are not unusual in Philippine politics.

He noted that Duterte’s public threats against President Marcos could amplify destabilizing effects of the political feud.

“Lalo ngayon na mayroon ngang pagbabanta sa buhay ng ating Pangulo ay talagang nakakaapekto ito sa political stability at maaaring maapektuhan ang investment climate sa ating bansa (Especially now that there are indeed threats to the life of our President, this is truly affecting political stability and could impact the investment climate in our country),” Mogato said.

In contrast, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan expressed confidence that the country’s current political environment will not significantly affect the positive economic outlook in the Philippines, citing the Marcos administration’s sound economic policies.

In a Palace press briefing Thursday, Balisacan said the administration remains focused on achieving the targets set in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

He said that historically, the Philippine economy was undeterred by political tensions in the past as economic policies are “broadly sustained.”

In an online briefing on Nov. 23, Duterte said she has contracted an assassin to target President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if the supposed plot to kill her were to succeed.

Duterte has claimed her remarks were “maliciously taken out of logical context,” but Mogato argued that the semantics of the statement made little difference.

“May binanggit siyang papatayin at kumontak siya ng killer. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin noon? Hindi ba assassination iyon (She mentioned having people killed and contacting a killer. What else could that mean but assassination)?” Mogato said.

He also questioned the lack of evidence supporting Duterte’s claims of threats against her life, pointing out the absence of corroborating reports from her security detail or law enforcement agencies.

As for Duterte’s supporters gathering at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City, Mogato said it pales in comparison with the spontaneous and broad support behind the 1986 People Power Revolution.

The Philippine National Police earlier said it received reports of payment and transportation provided to some supporters of the Vice President for them to show up at the EDSA Shrine.

While Mogato acknowledged President Marcos’ call to avoid pursuing the impeachment complaint against the Vice President to avoid distractions, he said Congress can act independently.

“Palagay ko lang na tama lamang na may mga tao, may mga politiko at may mga miyembro sa Kongreso na naiinis na sa inaasal nitong si VP Sara. Kaya hindi ko alam kung mapipigilan ng ating Pangulo ang ating mga congressman na mag-file ng impeachment complaint, o kung hindi man ang congressman ay baka mayroong private citizen na mag-file ng complaint (I just think it’s only right that there are people, politicians and members of Congress who are getting annoyed with the behavior of VP Sara. So, I don’t know if our President can stop our congressmen from filing an impeachment complaint or if not, maybe a private citizen will file a complaint),” Mogato said.

He emphasized the importance of the military as a stabilizing force.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains loyal to the Constitution and democratic principles, ensuring it would not act to destabilize or remove the sitting president.

“Pero alam ninyo po ang ating Armed Forces of the Philippines ay very professional. Sila po ay sumusunod lamang sa Commander-in-Chief, sa chain of command (The Armed Forces of the Philippines is very professional. They follow only the commander-in-chief, through the chain of command),” Mogato said.

He also noted that the military is content with Marcos’ leadership, citing his administration’s firm stance on the West Philippine Sea and continued support for soldiers’ benefits and salaries.