THE DAILY TRIBUNE | Published February 16, 2025
Administration lawmakers on Sunday urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into, and if necessary, press charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte over his controversial remarks suggesting the use of bomb blasts to eliminate 15 senators and make way for his party’s candidates.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a fellow Mindanaoan, stressed that such rhetoric cannot be taken lightly, particularly given Duterte’s history of inflammatory statements that have had real-world consequences.
“We have seen before how rhetoric like this can embolden individuals to take matters into their own hands, often with tragic consequences. When public figures normalize threats of violence, they create a dangerous environment where words can translate into real harm,” Adiong said.
Duterte, known for his tough-talking and often crass remarks, has frequently dismissed his statements as jokes. However, Adiong pointed out that the gravity of his latest remarks, particularly during an election season, cannot be ignored.
“In a democracy, words have power — especially when they come from someone who has held the highest office in the land… If telling a bomb joke is against the law and has corresponding punishment, what more if you threaten to kill 15 senators?” he argued.
What did Duterte say?
Duterte’s remarks grabbed headlines after he spoke at PDP-Laban’s proclamation rally on 11 February, where he endorsed his nine-member Senate slate. The upcoming midterm elections will see 12 Senate seats contested out of the chamber’s 24 members.
During his speech, Duterte suggested that 15 senators should be killed via bombing to ensure his allies, including re-electionists Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, could secure their seats.
Zamboanga Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, a vocal critic of the Dutertes, recommended that Duterte face legal action similar to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is currently under NBI investigation for an alleged plot against the president.
“The case against the Vice President sends the message that under this government, no one is above the law… Maybe former President Duterte should also be charged for the threats he is making, such as the filing of a complaint by the NBI against VP Sara Duterte,” Khonghun stated.
‘Beyond reckless’
Taguig Rep. Amparo Maria “Pammy” Zamora underscored the dangers of normalizing violent rhetoric, citing the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, which left over 7,000 dead, based on government data.
“This is beyond reckless. A former president joking about murder is unacceptable. The words of a leader carry weight. When they threaten violence, it emboldens enforcers of the law to take shortcuts, it silences critics, and it fosters a culture of fear instead of democratic discourse,” she said.
Zamora further emphasized that the violence during Duterte’s administration is not something to joke about, as the country continues to grapple with its consequences.
Meanwhile, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega dismissed Duterte’s statement as an attempt to stir discord amid his party’s dim prospects in the upcoming elections.
“They can see their defeat in the 12 May election. So the former President is just resorting to threatening and doing negative campaigning,” Ortega said.
As of February, at least 10 of the 12 senatorial candidates under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas continue to dominate election surveys, with ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo leading the pack.
Marcos has also highlighted that none of his endorsed senatorial candidates are pro-China, in an apparent jab at Duterte, whose administration pursued closer ties with Beijing.
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SOURCE: www.thedailytribune.com
RELATED: Ex-Philippine leader Duterte suggests killing senators in a bomb blast
Former president rallies the opposition as his family seeks to challenge the congressional majority of President Marcos.
Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, centre, addresses a proclamation rally for his senatorial candidates ahead of midterm elections in May [Ted Aljibe/AFP]
AL JAZEERA | Published February 16, 2025
Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte has suggested killing senators in a bomb blast to make room in the Senate for his preferred opposition candidates, as his word war with incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr heats up amid a midterm election campaign.
The ex-president made the comments on Thursday night during a speech at a rally in Manila endorsing nine opposition senatorial candidates running in the May national elections.
“There’s many of them [senators]. So what should we do? Let’s just kill the senators now so we will have more vacancies,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
“If we can kill about 15 senators, then we can all get into the Senate. That would be a pity though. Some of them are really annoying. But not all,” added Duterte, who is running for Davao mayor, a position he held for two decades before becoming president.
“Talking about opportunities, the only way to do it is to use a bomb,” Duterte added, evoking memories of the deadly 1971 bombing at a campaign rally, which left nine people dead and scores wounded, including six incumbent and future senators as well as the mayor of Manila.
Duterte’s statement followed the impeachment of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, whose political fate, including possible removal and perpetual disqualification from public office, will be decided by the 24-member Philippine Senate.
The trial date of the younger Duterte has not yet been set, but it is likely to happen after the May polls. With two-thirds of the number of senators required to convict, the final composition of the Senate could prove critical for her political survival. The majority of the senators are allies of Marcos.
As candidate for president in 2016, and as president until 2022, Duterte had been known to issue profanity-laden threats directed at public officials, including elected politicians, judges as well as police officers, while waging his deadly war on drugs.
Under his watch, an estimated 25 mayors and vice mayors were killed, either by police or unknown gunmen and snipers. Some of those killed were reportedly included in Duterte’s drug list.
