Sen. Imee Marcos 鈥擣ile photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Sen. Imee Marcos, a presidential sister and a known Duterte ally,聽 is unfazed by ex-President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 joke about killing 15 senators, saying that she was not afraid because she was well-loved by the former chief executive.
In a press conference, Marcos uttered a wordplay after she was asked to comment on the matter.
鈥淢aybe they are a hindrance. Do you know that? They aren鈥檛 loved. As for me, I鈥檓 not afraid because I鈥檓 loved. Maybe they are hindrances that鈥檚 why they are nervous,鈥� Marcos told reporters in Filipino.
Spelled in reverse, the word 鈥渂alakid鈥� becomes 鈥渄i ka lab,鈥� which in English means 鈥測ou鈥檙e not loved.鈥�
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鈥淚 am used to Davao trashtalk. Without passing judgment that it鈥檚 right or wrong, it feels like we got used to throwing shade. I鈥檓 not a hindrance. That鈥檚 why I am not afraid,鈥� Marcos said.
Duterte made his joke at the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial proclamation rally at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thursday.
He said would create more vacancies for the senatorial bets he was endorsing.
Duterte鈥檚 remark drew mixed reactions from lawmakers in both chambers of Congress.
Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said there was a need to leave the matter to the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.
He added, however, his insight on the matter before concluding his statement.
鈥淎 person鈥檚 obsession with the topic of death and killing, mentioning it every time he or she speaks, is a worrying sign of a serious personality disorder,鈥� Pimentel said then.