Manila, July 15 -- Malacanang on Wednesday maintained that Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. should not be treated as ordinary grave threats but as a serious national security issue.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro rejected the defense panel's argument before the Senate impeachment court that Duterte's statements were merely a response to questions in a November 2024 press briefing and did not constitute threats.

Duterte, during a virtual press conference in November 2024, said she had contracted someone to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed.

Castro said Duterte's threat went ...