Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent remark about killing 15 senators, emphasizing its serious implications on democracy.
“In a democracy, words have power, especially when they come from someone who has held the highest office in the land,” Adiong said in a statement on Sunday. He argued that statements like Duterte’s should be subjected to the same legal scrutiny as other controversial remarks.
The lawmaker noted that the NBI previously investigated Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. He questioned why Duterte’s comment should be treated any differently.
“If joking about a bomb threat is prohibited by law and has a penalty, then threatening to kill 15 senators should also have consequences,” Adiong said in Filipino.
Duterte made the comment on February 13 during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial proclamation rally at Club Filipino in San Juan City. While the remark was made in jest, Adiong warned that normalizing violent rhetoric could have real consequences.
“We have seen before how rhetoric like this can embolden individuals to take matters into their own hands, often with tragic results,” he said, urging institutions to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability.
Among the PDP-Laban’s senatorial candidates for the May midterm elections are 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, and former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez.
