NBI urged to probe Duterte鈥檚 joke on killing 15 senators
Senatorial bets of the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino held their proclamation rally at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thursday, February 13, 2025. Former President Rodrigo Duterte also in photo. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should investigate former President Rodrigo Duterte’s joke about killing 15 senators to make way for the senatorial candidates he is endorsing, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said on Sunday.
Adiong stressed the “serious implications” of Duterte’s statements in the society.
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“In a democracy, words have power, especially when they come from someone who has held the highest office in the land. If certain statements warrant legal scrutiny, it is imperative that all similar declarations be assessed fairly and consistently,” the lawmaker said in a statement.
“In moments like these, our institutions must stand firm in upholding the rule of law. We must ensure that no individual, regardless of position or influence, can erode the principles of democracy and accountability,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementAdiong also pointed out that the NBI should probe former President Duterte’s remark since it also investigated the “kill” threat of Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Article continues after this advertisement“If joking about a bomb threat is prohibited by the law and has a penalty, then threatening to kill 15 senators should also have a consequence,” he said in Filipino.
Adiong also said that the older Duterte could not hide his threat in a joke.
“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,” he added.
Duterte delivered the joke during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial proclamation rally at Club Filipino in San Juan City last February 13.
“Now, there’s many of them. What should we do? Let’s kill the senators now to create vacancies,” he said in Filipino, eliciting laughter from the audience.
“If we can kill around 15 senators, we can all go in. But, they’d be pitiful. Yet they’re irritating — not all of them, though. Talking of opportunities, the only way to do it is to use a bomb,” he added.
Below is the list of PDP-Laban’s senatorial candidates for the the May midterm elections:
- Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go
- musician and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc
- former Interior Undersecretary Jayvee Hinlo
- ex-presidential adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino
- actor Philip Salvador
- SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta
- detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy
- former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez
