ASEANEWS HEADLINE-Philippine Elections | MANILA, Philippines: Duterte jokes about killing 15 senators
HISTORIC VENUE Former President Rodrigo Duterte speaks on Thursday at the proclamation rally for the senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in the midtermpolls at the historic Club Filipino in San Juan City where the late President Corazon Aquino was sworn in after the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
.
WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm4w02wTUiY
Duterte jokes about killing 15 senators to make way for his bets | INQToday
.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte attends the House Quad Committee’s eleventh hearing into his war on drugs on November 13, 2024./ House of Representatives / Release
.
.
MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte joked about killing 15 senators to ensure the victory of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s senatorial slate during the PDP-Laban’s proclamation rally Thursday night.
“Now there are many of them. What shall we do? Let’s just kill incumbent senators so there will be vacancies. If we can kill 15 senators, we can all get in. That would be a pity though. But they are very annoying. Not all of them,” Duterte said.
The former president went further and jokingly said, “The only way to do it is to use a bomb.”
He did not specifically say what he suggested bombing.
Duterte’s Senate slate consists of Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go, outgoing SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. director Jimmy Bondoc, Kingdom of Jesus Christ pastor Apollo Quiboloy, former local government undersecretary Jayvee Hinlo, former presidential adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino, former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez and actor Phillip Salvador.
  |
At the same rally, Duterte accused President Marcos anew of being addicted to illegal drugs, particularly heroin.
“There is one President who is really high on drugs (bangag). Not crazy, but drug addiction is long-term. Marcos will be crazy,” Duterte said.
“Maybe constant use of heroin – maybe he could reach the age of 80, but by that time, he can no longer move,” he added.
|
|
.
In 2021, Duterte also claimed that Marcos snorts cocaine. Last year, Marcos commented that Duterte’s brain must be addled by the powerful opioid fentanyl, which Duterte had admitted using for pain relief.
Duterte also slammed the Marcos administration’s failure to address rising food prices, particularly of rice.
“Take rice, for instance, which really hits the gut and heart of Filipinos. He failed to get the most – either subsidize or whatever… It goes on up and up and up, it will be difficult for the people to cope,” Duterte said.
“It appears that he could not temper the price. Let’s deal with rice, not the other issues. But the immediate, urgent need to solve is really the prices or the price of rice,” he added.
Malacañang declined to comment on Duterte’s latest tirades against Marcos.
“No comment here,” Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Cesar Chavez told reporters.
|
|
.
Duterte’s tirades came days after Marcos took a swipe at his predecessor over a number of issues that hounded the previous administration, including its brutal drug war and pivot to China.
At the proclamation rally of the senatorial candidates of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas in Ilocos Norte on Tuesday, Marcos made reference to several controversies tied to the Duterte administration and claimed that none of the administration’a senatorial bets were involved in them.
“Look at the record of our candidates. None of them are tainted with blood because of tokhang,” the President said, referring to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which left more than 6,000 suspects dead, based on official figures.
|
|
.
Senators may file raps
Senators who feel threatened by the joke made by Duterte may file a case against him, a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said yesterday.
While the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) can initiate a probe over Duterte’s remarks, former IBP president Domingo Cayosa said it is important for the offended party to testify on the impact of the statement.
“This is a public crime. The state can prosecute this. But they need the offended party to testify that ‘I was threatened by that,’” he said in an interview with “Storycon” on One News.
“(Senators) can (file a case) if they feel particularly referred to by the statement… Of course, whether or not you get a conviction will depend on the appreciation of evidence and what kind of evidence will be presented by both parties,” he added.
Without a senator testifying on the impact of the statement, Cayosa said it might be difficult to support a case of grave threats, even if the NBI initiates its own investigation.
But referring to it as a joke is not necessarily an excuse, with the former IBP chief noting that other circumstances have to be taken into account.
Aside from the impact of the statement on the person referred to, Cayosa said a judge may also look at the capacity of the person to act on the “joke.”
“Those are circumstances that would contribute to a conviction,” he pointed out.
|
|
.
VP Sara skips PDP rally
Though opting to do away with personal appearance, Vice President Sara Duterte has officially endorsed the senatorial candidates under PDP-Laban for the midterm elections.
In a written message flashed on the screen during the proclamation rally, Sara enjoined the public to vote for the reelectionist senators as well as for neophyte aspiring senatorial candidates under PDP-Laban.
“Together with our fellowmen who continue to dream of better future, I extend my gratitude to all of you for striving to pave way for a genuine and meaningful change,” she said, addressing the PDP senatorial slate. “Thank you for accepting the call of public service despite the challenges that come with it.”
She said she trusts in the power of the Filipino voting public in changing the current situation of the country by voting the truly deserving candidates who will serve the nation with honesty and perseverance.
Duterte said she is praying for the PDP-Laban senatorial candidates’ success in their advocacies “for the sake of our communities and our fellow Filipinos.”
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) media relations team has yet to respond to reporters’ query on why the younger Duterte opted not to personally attend the proclamation rally.
In a previous interview with media, however, Duterte said she is currently focused on preparing her defense for her impending impeachment trial at the Senate, though she is still willing to extend support to the PDP-Laban slate.
The OVP media relations team has also yet to give an update on the Vice President’s current whereabouts, amid photos posted on social media by Duterte’s half-sister Kitty on Wednesday showing that they were together in Japan.
The OVP has yet to confirm whether Duterte is on an official or personal trip.
“I’m not privy to the Vice President’s schedule for this week,” OVP media relations officer John Carlo Cahinhinan replied to reporters through Viber.
Cahinhinan also did not confirm whether the photos posted by Kitty were taken in real time or were old ones. — Helen Flores, Elizabeth Marcelo, Janvic Mateo
|
|
Memento Maxima Digital Marketing
