THE Presidential Security Group is now taking the alleged assassination plots against President Rodrigo Duterte seriously after the police seized P4.5 million worth of smuggled gun parts and accessories that were meant to be used against him, Malacañang said Friday.
The reports on the alleged assassination plots gained credence following the arrest of two men this week who claimed to be involved in smuggling gun parts in relation to the plan.
“These assassination plots are being monitored by the Presidential Security Group,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a radio interview.
“If those M16 rifles had been assembled, those would be used against the President.”
Andanar said although the assassination plots were not new to Duterte, the administration had always been on high alert over his security as a result of his unrelenting drive against criminality and illegal drugs.
“We are not taking these death threats for granted,” Andanar said.
“We will take extraordinary steps to ensure the safety and security of the President.”