Former President Rodrigo Duterte (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A lawmaker on Friday said that former President Rodrigo Duterte remark on killing some senators聽 may face serious consequences and should not be taken lightly.
House of Representatives Assistant Majority Leader and Tingong Party-list Representative Jude Acidre said that threatening public officials, whether intended as a joke or not, can be a crime under the Philippine law.聽
鈥淗indi lang ito basta padalos-dalos na salita鈥攌rimen 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,鈥� Acidre said in a statement.聽
(These are not just reckless words鈥� this is a crime under the law. Threatening government officials is considered inciting to sedition or grave threats and constitutes a punishment.)
During the proclamation rally of the senatorial slate of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino 鈥� Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Thursday, Duterte 鈥渢o create vacancies鈥� for the candidates he is supporting.
Re-electionists Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go and Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa, his longtime allies, are among the candidates he is vouching for.聽
Further, Acidre said that the threat of violence is a threat to security and promotes a culture of violence.聽
鈥淗indi 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,鈥� Acidre added.聽
(This should not be ignored because this is a security threat and the government is forced to spend funds in mobilizing the police and military to address the threats, even if this is intended as a joke.)
Acidre also said that the former president鈥檚 threat is a 鈥渕irror鈥� of Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 previous threats against President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta 鈥� Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.聽
The lawmaker also noted that the former President鈥檚 remarks 鈥渁dd salt to the wounds鈥� as the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed cases against his daughter for inciting sedition and grave threats for the 鈥渒ill order鈥� pronounced in a live broadcast in November 2024.
One of the seven articles of impeachment in the verified complaint sent to the Senate was the vice president鈥檚 betrayal of public trust and commission of high crimes due to her assassination threat against President Marcos Jr., his wife, and cousin.聽
The vice president was recently impeached by the House of Representatives, with 240 lawmakers backing her impeachment.