Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos vowed on Monday to fight back against what he called reckless and troubling threats against him, speaking out after his estranged vice president said he would be assassinated if she herself were killed.

Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday that she has contracted an assassin to kill the president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President Sara Duterte said she had talked to a hitman to kill her boss if she herself were to be killed, saying she was making "no joke."