Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed Monday to combat Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged plot to assassinate him.

“This criminal conspiracy should not be allowed,” Marcos said without naming Duterte, according to the Associated Press. “I’ll fight him.”

Marcos also said that “as a democratic country, we must respect the rule of law.”

On Saturday, Duterte said she had hired an assassin to kill the president, his wife as well as the speaker of the House of Representatives if she was killed.

Duterte later tried to walk back his comments.

“Why should I kill him if not for revenge from the grave? I have no reason to kill him. What is the benefit to me?” » said Duterte.