A HOUSE leader on Friday denounced former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s recent statement to kill senators to make way for his party’s candidates.
During the PDP-Laban proclamation rally on Thursday, Duterte remarked, “Ngayon marami kasi sila. Ano dapat ang gawin natin? Patayin natin yung mga senador ngayon para mabakante. Kung makapatay tayo, tanan, mga 15 na senador. Pasok na tayo lahat.”
House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list, emphasized that ex-President Duterte’s statement mirrors the Vice President’s previous threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, which are central to the impeachment proceedings against her.
“Talagang mag-ama nga sila. Si anak, nagbanta na ipapapatay ang Presidente at Speaker. Si ama naman, gusto ipapatay ang mga senador. Parang gusto nila bumingo sa lagay na ’yan,” Acidre remarked.
He further noted that publicly threatening officials should not be taken lightly and constitutes a crime under Philippine law.
Acidre strongly condemned Duterte’s remarks, saying that threats of violence—whether intended as a joke or not—have serious consequences.
“Hindi biro ang pagbabantang pumatay ng opisyal ng gobyerno—kahit pa sabihin nilang joke lang. Nakakatakot ‘yan kasi nagpapalaganap ng kultura ng karahasan, pinahihina ang demokrasya, at sinisira ang batas. Sa isang demokratikong bansa, inihahalal ang mga pinuno, hindi pinapatay. Kapag ang mga dating o kasalukuyang opisyal mismo ang nagbibitaw ng ganitong klaseng salita, parang sinasabi nilang okay lang gumamit ng dahas imbes na pag-usapan nang maayos ang hindi pagkakasundo,” Acidre explained.
“Bukod diyan, hindi lang ito basta padalos-dalos na salita—krimen ito sa ilalim ng batas. Ang pagbabanta sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno ay maituturing na inciting to sedition o grave threats, at may kaakibat na parusa. Hindi puwedeng balewalain ito kasi nagdadala ito ng tunay na banta sa seguridad, at napipilitan ang gobyerno na gumastos ng pondo at magpakilos ng pulis at militar para tugunan ang banta, kahit pa sinasabi nilang biro lang ito,” the legislator added.
Acidre said ex-President Duterte’s remarks could further strengthen one of the articles of impeachment against her daughter. One of the articles of impeachment transmitted to the Senate alleged that Vice President Sara Duterte betrayed public trust by making reckless public statements that threatened the security of high-ranking officials.
The complaint cites a Nov. 23, 2024, live broadcast where VP Duterte explicitly stated that she had arranged for an assassin should anything happen to her. These remarks caused alarm within government and security circles, prompting official inquiries into their intent and consequences.
The impeachment complaint argued that, regardless of intent, the Vice President should not engage in rhetoric suggesting threats against the sitting President and other high-ranking officials. Such remarks undermine governmental stability and erode public confidence in the executive branch. Duterte’s refusal to clarify her statements in subsequent interviews and hearings heightened concerns about a potential destabilization effort against the administration.
“’Yung kampo ng mga Duterte, parang sila na mismo nagbabaon sa sarili nila. Remember, just recently, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended filing criminal complaints against VP Duterte for inciting to sedition and grave threats related to her statements about arranging an assassin. Her father’s remarks just adds salt to the wounds,” Acidre said.
Just this week, NBI Director Jaime Santiago announced that the complaints were filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which will decide whether to dismiss them or elevate them to court.
In response to these developments, the DOJ emphasized that no one is above the law, countering any assertions of immunity by the Vice President. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla remarked, “The law applies to everyone, regardless of position. The Vice President is not immune from criminal prosecution.”
