Philippines' Marcos says kill threat 'troubling'

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos says he won't take lightly "troubling" threats against him. -AP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos will not take lightly "troubling" threats against him, just days after his estranged vice-president said she had asked someone to assassinate the president if she herself was killed.

In a video message on Monday during which he did not name Vice-President Sara Duterte, his former running mate, Marcos said "such criminal plans should not be overlooked".

Security agencies at the weekend said they would step up their protocols and investigate the statement, which Duterte made at a news conference. 

The vice-president's office has acknowledged a Reuters request for comment.