The vice-president of the Philippines has hired a hitman to kill the country’s president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife and the speaker of the house, in the event she is assassinated.

The Philippine Justice Department said on Sunday it was investigating a threat by Vice President Sara Duterte to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself was killed. "The matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation,

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Marcos’ office to vow “immediate proper action.”

Sara Duterte told reporters she had told an assassin to kill Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and the speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be killed.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Marcos' office to vow "immediate proper action".

The Philippines' security council will verify an alleged assassination threat by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a top official said on Sunday, describing it as a "matter of national security".

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' security detail has been put on alert over what his office is calling an "active threat" against his life by Vice President Sara Duterte, the palace

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now investigating the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she contracted a person to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos,