Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs on October 28, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Members of the House majority bloc on Sunday called out former President Rodrigo Duterte for talking about killing senators so candidates he is backing can have seats, with some calling for him to be held accountable before the law.

Duterte during a recent gathering in San Juan City spoke about assassinating 15 senators to create more vacancies for the senatorial candidates he was backing.

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Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong in a statement said the National Bureau of Investigation could review Duterte's remarks, noting that if the agency investigated the kill threat made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., "it is only appropriate to subject the former president’s statements to the same level of scrutiny."

“Pareho silang mag-ama. Dapat siguro, kasuhan din ang dating Pangulong Duterte sa ginagawa niyang pananakot, gaya ng pag-file ng complaint ng National Bureau of Investigation kay VP Sara Duterte,” Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, an assistant majority leader, said in a separate statement.

(They are the same. Maybe former preisdent Duterte should also be charged like how the National Bureau of Investigation filed a complaint against VP Sara Duterte)

The NBI said Wednesday it filed inciting to sedition and grave threat complaints against Sara Duterte for her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Members of Congress and the rest of government used to applaud Duterte's controversial statements, which supporters often claimed were jokes or exaggerations.

"If certain statements warrant legal scrutiny, it is imperative that all similar declarations be assessed fairly and consistently," Adiong said.

He said that if people who make bomb jokes at airports are penalized, those who talk about killing 15 senators should also be held accountable.

Adiong added that institutions must stand firm for the rule of law, democracy and accountability.

"When public figures normalize threats of violence, they create a dangerous environment where words can translate into real harm," he said.

Thousands of suspected drug peddlers and users, mostly from poor families, were killed under Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign, during which he repeatedly urged police officers to kill drug personalities especially when they fight back.

Duterte and his aides have denied that killing was official policy under the drug war.

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'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'

"The violence we saw during the Duterte administration is not something to joke about. It has real consequences, and our country continues to deal with the aftermath," Taguig City Rep. Pammy Zamora noted in a separate statement.

She said that good governance cannot be done through threats of killing and that that kind of politics must be rejected.

She also urged fellow lawmakers to reject "attempts to legitimize threats and intimidation as part of political discourse."

"Hindi ito normal. Hindi natin ito dapat hayaang maging normal," she said. "Enough is enough. We cannot allow our leaders, past or present, to keep making murder sound like a policy option."

No longer in power, although still wielding influence, Duterte has seen more pushback against his controversial statements and remarks.

"Siguro sa kanila wala silang pag-asa kaya papatay na lang sila ng 15 na senador. Eh talagang… Sabagay mahirap naman ‘yung ibang tao ang iniisip lang nila — ang kaisa-isang solusyon sa lahat ng problema ay pumatay pa ng Pilipino," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Saturday.

(Maybe they really do not see any hope, that is why they said to kill 15 senators. Well, it's hard for some people — their only solution is to kill Filipinos)

"Unang reaction, 'ano?! Ano raw?!' (My first reaction was 'what did he just say?')," Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.

"Ano pang magiging reaction ng mga tao na hirap na hirap na nga sa buhay, sa mga isyu na tinatalakay nina Sen. Kiko at Sen. Bam ay dagdag na karahasan. Talagang ewan ko lang sa kaniya," the lawmaker added, referring to former Sens. Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.

(How will people react when they are already burdened by the issues that Sen. Kiko and Sen. Bam are discussing, and then you add violence. I really don't know with him)

Pangilinan has been campaigning on food prices while Aquino has been focusing on education and jobs.

 — Rowegie Abanto with Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

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