Former President Rodrigo Duterte together with PDP Laban President Senaror Robin Padilla leads the proclamation rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, on February 13, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday it was open to investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent remark about killing senators, but only if the lawmakers themselves file a complaint.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago addressed the issue after police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed complaints for inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances against Duterte.

“Makikita niyo na ganyan ang ating batas, different agencies— NBI, CIDG. Ako po sa aming pananaw ay rhetoric. Kilala na natin si Digong na palabiro,” Santiago said. 

“Pero CIDG, ano man ang kanilang paniniwala sa mga speeches ni Digong, isang patunay pa rin po ‘yun na walang nagdidikta sa amin.”

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The case is now with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which will determine the next steps, Santiago said. 

“Nandun na po ang kaso sa DOJ, bahala na po ngayon ang DOJ kung ano ang dapat,” he added.

During the proclamation rally of Senatorial candidates of Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on February 13, Duterte said: "Ngayon, marami kasi sila, ano ang dapat ang gawin natin? Eh di patayin natin yung mga Senador ngayon para mabakante.”

“Kung makapatay tayo ng mga kinse na senador, eh pasok na tayo lahat," he said. 

MOTU PROPRIO INVESTIGATION 

When asked whether the NBI could launch a motu proprio investigation, Santiago explained that such actions are limited to threats against key government officials, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice.

“Here is another matter—senators. Kailangan po natin dyan ang mga senador na tingin nila sila ay pinagbabantaan ay pupunta sa amin at kami po ay aaksyon,” Santiago said.

The NBI will review any complaint filed by senators, similar to its handling of cases involving Vice President Sara Duterte.

The agency last week filed sedition and grave threat complaints against the Vice President for her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Pag-aaralan namin kasi katulad nung kay VP Sara, pinag-aralan namin ng mahigpit ‘yan. Limang abogado plus ako ang nag-aral nyan kaya nasampa po ang kaso. Pero magkaiba ang circumstances nito kay VP Sara at rhetoric ni Digong sa kanyang political speech,” Santiago said.

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The NBI chief added that their assessment would consider multiple factors, including the delivery, context, and seriousness of the remark.

CAN CONGRESS FILE COMPLAINT? 

While several congressmen have reacted strongly to Duterte’s killing remark, Santiago clarified that they are not the aggrieved party and thus cannot file the complaint on behalf of the senators.

“With due respect sa kanila, sila ang nagtutulak ng kaso, e hindi naman sila ang involved actually—‘yung mga senador,” he said.

“Saka hindi naman sinabi kung sino dun sa 15 ang papatayin. ‘Yun bang nakaupo o tatakbo? Saka kung hindi ba naman lokohan lang, meron ba naman porket namatay ‘yung senator, automatic na ‘yung mga kandidato ni President Digong, ‘yun na ang papasok? Syempre kung mamatay, merong substitution, hindi sila. At iboboto pa rin ng taumbayan.”

As the case remains with the DOJ and the CIDG has already taken legal action, it is now up to the senators to decide whether they will file their own complaints to trigger an NBI investigation. 

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